Certified Nurse-Midwives are registered nurses with a master’s degree, and have education in two disciplines
, Nursing and Midwifery. CNMs are board certified, independently licensed, and have prescriptive authority in all 50 states. They primarily work in clinics and hospitals, and in addition to attending over 10% of the births in Colorado, provide pregnancy and gynecological care from puberty to menopause. They are able to collect for insurance reimbursement with private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
Certified Nurse-Midwives are experts in understanding the normalcy of birth, and recognizing potential complications early. They collaborate with physicians if complications arise. They care for women who desire either a natural labor or a medicated labor (including epidurals), and can first assist during a cesarean section. CNMs provide support during labor, and are open and respectful of birth preferences. They have similar safety outcomes as obstetricians for mothers and babies, while having low rates of induction, cesarean section, and episiotomies.