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We’re now in our eighth week running down the top 10 best paying nursing specialties. A little refresher on the top 7:
1. Certified RN anesthetists
2. Orthopedics
3. Geriatrics
4. Perioperative nurses
5. Clinical nurse specialists
6. Psychiatric nurse practitioners
7. General nurse practitioners
Certified nurse-midwives or CNM
Salary:
Between $55,000 and $95,000
Why you might love this job:
This is the perfect gig for labor and delivery nurses looking to make their way up the ladder. So what’s important when trying to scrounge together experience? The combo of an advanced practice degree and experience as an RN is sure to leave an impression.
A certified nurse-midwife is essentially an advanced practice registered nurse who has both specialized education and training in both nursing and midwifery. CNMs are the general healthcare providers for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Love babies? Find pregnancy beautiful and complex? This could be the specialty for you.
Hot tip:
“There are many different types of practices for CNMs, from an independent home birth practice, to free standing birth centers, to being hospital employed as a Laborist or Triage CNM. WHNP is basically a CNM, but without the ability to catch babies! I think being willing to move is probably a good thing, if you want a certain kind of position. The availability of jobs varies tremendously based on geography. Check out the jobs on the ACNM website to get an idea of what’s available out there.” – mommy2boysaz, AllNurses.com
Technical jargon:
According to wiki, “Certified Nurse-Midwives, in most states, are required to possess a minimum of a graduate degree such as the Master of Science in Nursing, or Post-Master’s Certificate. Most recently, the first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has become available. Additionally, Certified Nurse Midwives must also hold an active Registered Nurse license in the state in which they practice.
Certified Nurse Midwives practice in hospitals and medical clinics, and may also deliver in birthing centers and attend at-home births. They are able to prescribe some medications, treatments, medical devices, therapeutic and diagnostic measures, et al. in all 50 states.”
Fast facts:
- Currently 2% of nurse-midwives are men.
- The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) accredits Certified Nurse-Midwifery education programs and serves as the national specialty society for the nation’s CNMs.
- Midwife means “with woman” and thus is the mantra for the ACNM, “With women for a lifetime.”
- The ACNM estimates that soon, one in 10 babies in the U.S. will be delivered by certified nurse-midwives.
