| FACTS ABOUT ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN NORTH CAROLINA |
| “Advanced Practice Registered Nurse”(APRN) is an umbrella title for RNs who are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists or Nurse Practitioners. Completion of an advanced formal education program is required for recognition to practice in any of these categories. The specific scopes of practice and requirements for recognition to practice in North Carolina for each APRN category are defined in Administrative Rules, which may be obtained from the North Carolina Board of Nursing. |
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Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Education: Completion of a Post-graduate certificate midwifery program, or a Master’s in Nursing Degree midwifery program. Mandatory national certification examination, continuing education and recertification.
What they do: Provide well-woman and gynecological care for women of all ages (including family planning, infertility, preconception, menopause, and treatment of common health problems), obstetrical care including prenatal, postpartum, intrapartum, and newborn care. CNMs attend births in hospitals, out of hospital birth centers, and at home. CNMs attended 7% of all births in North Carolina in 1998. There is a misconception that CNMs only provide obstetrical care however, according to a 1999 survey, one out of three women seen by CNMs is not pregnant. These specialists have prescriptive authority in North Carolina and many other states.
Employment options: May be salaried or self-employed. CNM services reimbursable by insurance.
Who regulates: Midwifery Joint Committee.