When people think about a “birth team,” the first images that come to mind are usually doctors and nurses. Yet, there’s another professional whose role is equally important in many births and women’s health journeys, the certified nurse-midwife. Their work spans from guiding families through pregnancy to providing lifelong women’s health care.
In this blog, we’ll explore what a certified nurse midwife does. Also, why their role matters, and what a career in midwifery can look like. Plus, the training, workplaces, job outlook, and rewards that come with it. For those considering this path, HealthCareTalentLink (HCTL) is here to connect you with resources and opportunities to take the next step.
What is a Certified Nurse Midwife?
A certified nurse midwife, often called a CNM, is an advanced practice registered nurse. They specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and women’s broader health. CNMs complete graduate-level midwifery education and must pass a national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
We often explain it like this: a CNM blends strong nursing skills with focused midwifery training. They provide clinical care while collaborating with physicians when more complex medical interventions are needed. That combination means CNMs can manage routine pregnancies independently, and they contribute strongly to preventive care and family planning.
Core Roles of a Certified Nurse Midwife
Here are the primary roles CNMs typically perform:
Prenatal care, including routine exams, lab ordering, and counseling about birth plans.
Labor and birth support, providing continuous presence, monitoring, and hands-on delivery care.
Postpartum care, addressing recovery, lactation, and emotional well-being.
Routine gynecologic care, such as well-woman exams, contraception counseling, and STD screening.
Newborn checks are immediately after delivery for low-risk births.
In practice, CNMs aim to provide person-centered care, focusing on low-intervention approaches when appropriate. However, they also recognize when collaboration with obstetricians is the safer path. National data show midwives attend a meaningful portion of U.S. births. Their care model is linked with lower intervention rates in many low-risk pregnancies.
Each of these roles is both clinical and relational. CNMs balance technical skills with communication and decision-making to help families feel prepared.
Key Responsibilities in Day-to-Day Practice
A typical day can vary, but a common pattern looks like this. We may check prenatal clinic notes in the morning, meet with several patients for routine visits, and then be on call for a labor admission. During labor, we monitor maternal and fetal status, support comfort measures, and coordinate with the team if a transfer of care is needed.
Specific responsibilities include clinical assessment, interpreting fetal monitoring, prescribing routine medications within scope, providing counseling, documenting care, and arranging referrals. CNMs must also be ready for urgent situations, stabilizing patients and seeking surgical backup when necessary.
For aspiring midwives, it helps to picture the role as both clinical and coaching, where you use evidence-based practice and also hold space for intense life events. In many settings, CNMs lead interprofessional care, while remaining part of a broader safety net that includes OB-GYNs and hospital teams.
Where Do Certified Nurse Midwives Work?
CNMs practice in a variety of settings: hospitals, birthing centers, private clinics, community health programs, and occasionally home-birth practices in states where regulations allow. They are increasingly present in outpatient women’s health clinics and community-based programs that focus on maternal health.
If you’re exploring opportunities, our platform lists nursing and midwifery positions across settings, and you can find roles suited to hospital practice or more community-focused work on HealthCareTalentLink.
Certified Nurse Midwife Jobs: Career Outlook
Demand for CNMs is rising, driven by interest in midwifery models of care and by workforce needs in both urban and rural areas. The broader occupational group that includes nurse midwives is projected to grow, and midwives can help close gaps in maternal care access.
If you’re searching for certified nurse midwife jobs, expect roles that vary by setting, from staff CNM positions in hospitals to private practice and per diem work. We provide tailored job alerts for midwifery and women’s health openings, which can help you compare options and find a fit that matches your preferred pace and autonomy.
Certified Nurse Midwife Salary: What to Expect
Pay for CNMs is competitive among advanced practice nursing roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports mean annual wages for nurse midwives in a range that reflects experience and location, with national averages often exceeding six figures.
For Michigan specifically, state-level data and salary aggregators suggest average CNM pay is close to the national average, though exact figures depend on facility type and years of experience. For example, recent estimates for Michigan place average annual pay in the low-to-mid $110,000 range. If you compare offers, consider shift patterns, benefits, and on-call expectations in addition to base pay.
The Rewards of Being a Certified Nurse Midwife
There is real emotional and professional reward in midwifery. We see CNMs describe their work as deeply meaningful because they accompany families through formative moments, support informed choices, and often build lasting relationships. Clinically, CNMs report high job satisfaction from practicing autonomously in a team-based environment.
Beyond the personal, midwifery contributes to community health, especially in improving low-risk birth outcomes when given appropriate resources. That sense of purpose is a common reason professionals pursue CNM training. No career is without challenge; however, the impact is tangible and often profound.
Challenges CNMs May Face
Honest talk: training is long, and clinical placements can be competitive, and some regions still have limited midwifery positions or restrictive practice laws. In addition, on-call responsibilities and emotionally intense cases can be draining. Policy and reimbursement differences across states also influence scope and autonomy. Still, many find the work sustainable when supported by fair staffing, strong teamwork, and continuing education.
How to Become a Certified Nurse-Midwife?
The usual path is earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and RN licensure, completing a graduate program in nurse-midwifery (MSN or DNP), then sitting for the AMCB certification exam and maintaining state licensure. Practical clinical hours and verified program completion are required before testing.
If you are exploring this path, we provide resources and job coaching for students and newly certified CNMs, plus curated listings for residency-style positions and entry-level midwifery roles on HealthCareTalentLink. Starting with strong clinical experience and then finding a program with solid preceptor placements makes a big difference.
Conclusion
Certified nurse midwives bring both skill and reassurance to reproductive and maternity care. Their work stretches beyond the delivery room, guiding families through pregnancy, supporting recovery after birth, and offering ongoing women’s health services. It is a career rooted in clinical knowledge and human connection, which is why so many find it rewarding.
