| Today’s Certified Nurse-Midwife |
| Today’s Certified Nurse-Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
is a Registered Nurse (RN) who has graduated from an advanced education
program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and has
passed a national certification exam. In addition, CNMs practicing in the
state of Washington hold Master’s Degrees in Nursing and are Advanced
Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) CNMs attend women during labor and delivery and are trained and experienced in prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care, and in routine gynecological care for women throughout their lives. They can provide well-woman gynecological care, including breast examinations, Pap smears, and family planning. Thus, as they carry on a centuries old tradition of assisting women in the safe delivery of babies they can draw not only on their professional skills but the use of advances and techniques in modern medicine. "Midwife" means "with woman". Health care by nurse-midwives means a special skill and understanding of the unique physical, social, and spiritual needs of women. CNMs focus on wellness and consumer choice. Women are encouraged to make informed decisions about their healthcare. CNMs welcome your questions and take time to listen to you and talk with you. CNMs continue the family-oriented, safe, personalized, and thorough health care that assure healthy women of having the healthiest babies possible. And, although many work as primary care providers, they consult with physicians when there are problems that may put a pregnant woman at risk. Sue Dennis & Deborah Vuillemot have continuous physician availability from Dr. Diana Smigaj and Dr. Elton Kerr for consultation, collaboration and referral of care and are able to assist the physician in providing cesarean sections as needed. The hallmarks of nurse midwifery care are continuity
and teaching women to be self-reliant, to trust their own bodies in
delivering healthy babies naturally. Women may chose to use medication and
anesthesia during childbirth. CNMs in several states, including Washington,
are licenses to write prescriptions for medications and /or vitamins should
these health care aids be needed.
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