A midwife plays a vital role in the process of giving birth, offering guidance and assistance during pregnancy and after deliveries. If you love a career where you can have a beneficial impact on women’s lives, you should start a career as a midwife. A midwife is a skilled medical expert who has received extensive training in healthcare and has extensive expertise in delivering comprehensive support to women.
Starting a career as a midwife plays an important role in healthcare, providing specialised care to women during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards. Midwives have become increasingly prevalent in healthcare because they emphasize well-being and provide comprehensive mother support. Therefore, there is a growing need for midwives in the healthcare sector. Becoming a midwife can be both fulfilling as well as challenging. It requires commitment, education and practical experience. Therefore, one must be willing to dedicate to lifelong learning to start a career as a midwife. You can also pursue a career as a midwife by beginning with a nursing career.
I will guide you through the details of this profession and the steps on how to start a career as a midwife.
How to Start a Career as a Midwife
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Obtain a Bachelor’s degree
You have to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree to start a career as a midwife. This will provide you with the fundamental knowledge in nursing which will be beneficial in the long run.
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Become a Registered Nurse
After completing the bachelor’s program, you should take the licensing examination that will enable you to practice as a registered nurse.
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Gain Clinical Experience
You need to acquire experience as a registered nurse. You should focus more on the obstetrics and gynaecology section. This experience can last for about a year or two. Additionally, this will prepare you to handle challenges in real-world situations.
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Pursue an Advanced Degree
You can consider acquiring a master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma after gaining experience. This will enable you to gain advanced knowledge in midwifery. Additionally, you will have a higher advantage in the employment market. During your postgraduate degree, you will focus on topics such as neonatal health, labour management, and antenatal care.
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Pass the Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Examination
After earning your nursing degree, you have to pass the licensing examination. This exam will put your academic knowledge and clinical nursing skills to the test.
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Obtain the Licensing Certification
After passing the licensing exam, you have to register with the midwifery licensing organisation. To practice legally as a midwife, you must first register. You must complete the necessary documentation and pay the registration fees. After fulfilling the requirements, you will be issued a certificate of license which will enable you to practice legally. Furthermore, this certification validates one’s ability to provide high-quality care to pregnant women and their newborns.
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Maintain Ethical and Professional Standards
You must learn to preserve ethical standards, safeguard patient information, and provide high-quality care while showing understanding and compassion. You can have a successful profession as a midwife by upholding ethical standards and expanding your expertise.
Types of Midwives
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Certified Nurse-Midwife
A certified nurse-midwife is a professionally skilled and educated midwife who holds a master of midwifery and a bachelor of science in nursing(BSN). These midwives are licensed to practice and frequently work in clinical or hospital settings. Additionally, they recommend drugs, therapies and diagnostic procedures.
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Certified Midwife
A certified midwife has a bachelor’s degree in another field except nursing. These midwives are not licensed as registered nurses.
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Certified Professional Midwife
A certified professional midwife has completed midwifery training and fulfils the practice criteria. People from different educational backgrounds can pursue a career as a certified professional midwife. However, these midwives mostly work in non-hospital settings such as private homes or birth centres. They do not prescribe drugs to patients.
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Direct Entry Midwife
A direct-entry midwife is an autonomous professional who obtains midwifery training and education through apprenticeship, self-study or a midwifery school. Additionally, they usually have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and do not have a license. They provide services in non-hospital settings such as private homes.
Midwifery Schools in Africa
- University of Cape Town, South
- Makerere University, Uganda
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- University of Lagos
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
- University of Ghana, Ghana
- School of Nursing, Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
- University of Zambia, Zambia
- Aga Khan University School of Nursing & Midwifery, Kenya
- University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
- Western Cape College Of Nursing, South Africa
- University of Malawi, Malawi
- School Of Midwifery, University Of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
- Rivers State School Of Midwifery, Nigeria
- Shekinah Nursing School, South Africa
The list of schools and universities that offer education in midwifery is exhaustible. You must research the school or university in your education and get the quality education you need to start a career as a midwife.
In Conclusion, starting a career as a midwife is a transformative experience packed with challenges and benefits. Furthermore, the healthcare and alternative medicine industries are flourishing, therefore starting a career as a midwife is not only lucrative but also quite promising. The career would require intense training and the acquisition of critical clinical skills. Therefore, you should be able to dedicate the time and effort which is needed to build you to an empathetic and capable healthcare provider.
Good luck!