Midwifery School in Ohio - OH
Thousands of new parents turn to midwives each year to help them through pregnancy, delivery and the early days of newborn care. And according to the Ohio Department of Health, more than 75,000 babies were born in the state during 2014. Nurse midwives are advanced practice nurses who have an extensive amount of education and experience to help new babies safely make their way into the world. Sometimes midwives work one-on-one with expectant mothers, but they often work closely with obstetricians to help ensure the best birth experience possible for mothers.
Nurse midwifery education in Ohio
There are a few different educational paths to take in order to become a midwife in the U.S. However every state varies in its requirements. For example, direct-entry midwives (DMs) do not need a college education, nursing experience, or even certification. But only a handful of states in the U.S. allow DMs to practice legally, and many of them require additional certification or licensure. This is a gray area in Ohio. DMs are not regulated in the state of Ohio, and there is no licensure program available in the state either. This means that DMs are technically illegal, but there is legislation still pending in 2015 that could allow DMs to practice if they are certified.
For those interested in midwifery schools in Ohio, the best route to take would be to become a nurse midwife, which is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all APRNs need a master's degree, but must also first become licensed as a registered nurse before they pursue the master's. Education for a registered nurse can take three forms:
- Diploma from an approved nursing program - This program typically takes two to three years to complete, and will include supervised clinical experience.
- Associate's degree in nursing (ADN) - This is degree also takes about two to three years to complete, and it also includes supervised clinical experience.
- A bachelor's degree of science in nursing (BSN) - This is a four-year program which includes additional education in topics such as communication, leadership and critical thinking. There is also more clinical experience in non-hospital settings.
After becoming a licensed registered nurse, you'll be eligible for the master's degree program, which focuses strongly on pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, and courses that pertain to the nurse-midwife designation. The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) is the accrediting body for certified nurse-midwife graduate programs. As of 2014, there were 39 midwifery education programs in the United States accredited by ACME, including one midwifery school in Ohio: Ohio State University College of Nursing offers a Nurse-Midwifery Graduate Program.
Some students go on to earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D. In fact, almost five percent of nurse-midwives hold a doctoral degree, the highest proportion out of all the APRN professions according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Ohio licensing and certification requirements for midwives
The road to becoming a nurse midwife does not stop at higher education; you must also pass a national certification exam. The American Midwifery Certification Board offers certification for nurse-midwives, and re-certification is required every five years. To obtain further information on specific questions regarding nurse-midwifery in Ohio, contact the Ohio Board of Nursing.
The midwifery field has undergone many changes in the past few decades. In the state of Ohio, there are no licensing or certification options for midwives who have not taken the route of becoming an APRN. In other states there may be licensing and certification options for those who do not have a higher education or formal training as a nurse.
Salary and career overview for Ohio nurse midwives
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a healthy outlook for nurse-midwives from 2012 to 2022, with nationwide job growth of 29 percent during that period. Much of that growth is due to the expansion of healthcare services in response to federal legislation offering healthcare coverage for more Americans and more recognition from the public for APRNs as a great source of care. Nurse-midwives are expected to be in high demand in rural and inner city areas.
The BLS reported a mean annual wage of $92,230 for nurse-midwives nationwide in May 2013. In Ohio, the BLS reported a mean annual wage of $88,620 for the approximately 150 nurse-midwives employed in the state. Most nurse-midwives in the state served in urban areas, such as Cleveland or Cincinnati.
Sources:
ACME Accredited Midwifery Programs, American College of Nurse-Midwives, http://www.midwife.org/Programs-Accredited-by-ACME
American College of Nurse-Midwives, http://www.midwife.org/Essential-Facts-about-Midwives
American Midwifery Certification Board, http://www.amcbmidwife.org/home2
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, January 2014, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-1
Nurse Midwives, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2013, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291161.htm
Ohio Board of Nursing, http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/
Registered Nurses, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-1
State Info, North American Registry of Midwives, http://narm.org/state-organizations/state-info/
Citizens for Midwifery, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed Feb 20, 2015, http://cfmidwifery.org/midwifery/faq.aspx
Ohio Friends of Midwives, About Midwifery, http://www.ofom.org/about_midwifery.html
Midwives Alliance of North America, State by State, http://mana.org/about-midwives/state-by-state#top