Nurse Midwife and her Duties
The first decision to take when a woman finds out that she is pregnant is – whether to use an obstetrician or a nurse midwife.
Nurse midwives are well trained under the guidance of an obstetrician and continue practising on their own. However, there are a few who serve in hospitals, family planning centres and other health centers.
Philosophy of Nurse Midwives:
Philosophy is based on providing health care to women whilst acknowledging and respecting their needs. They encourage individualized health care experience, clear communication between the provider and the patient, active participation and encourage patient education.
Nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed accredited midwifery programs. Once certified, they become certified nurse midwives (CNMs) who can write prescriptions and provide variety of care including:
a) Labor and Delivery Care
b) Post birth care
c) Family planning assistance
d) Disease prevention
e) Menopausal Management
f) New born care
g) Gynaecological problems
h) Pre-conception care
i) Pre-natal care
j) Health maintenance counselling
Nurse midwives collaborate with physicians – especially in problem pregnancies. They work with medical professionals in general health care. They work with physicians when additional medical advice or surgical care is needed.
Duties of Nurse Midwife:
Some of the duties that nurse midwives take up are, they check the patient’s health conditions, educate the women who are ready to give birth to a child about the procedures and conduct a few tests that are required before the reproduction and makes sure that the women are keeping well.
