A Descriptive Study of Career Satisfaction and Professional Trajectories of Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse‐Midwives.

Introduction: The Certified Midwife (CM) credential was introduced by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives in 1996 to increase the midwifery workforce and provide an equivalent direct entry pathway to midwifery practice without prior nursing education. No research has compared the professional exp...

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Publicado en:Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health Vol. 70; no. 5; pp. 764 - 771
Autores principales: Jefferson, Karen, Bella, Abigail, Schechter, Suzanne, Buscarino, Lauren, Hackley, Barbara, Lichtman, Ronnie
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Sep/Oct2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep/Oct2025
      vid: 70
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        atl: A Descriptive Study of Career Satisfaction and Professional Trajectories of Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse‐Midwives.
      aug:
        au:
          Jefferson, Karen
          Bella, Abigail
          Schechter, Suzanne
          Buscarino, Lauren
          Hackley, Barbara
          Lichtman, Ronnie
        affil: American College of Nurse‐Midwives, Washington District of Columbia
      sug:
        subj:
          Job Satisfaction Evaluation
          Career Mobility
          Professional Development
          Midwives Psychosocial Factors
          Certification
          Certified Nurse Midwives Psychosocial Factors
          Work Experiences Evaluation
          Education, Midwifery New York
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Descriptive Research
          Education, Midwifery
          Survey Research
          Questionnaires
          New York
          Professional Role
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Pearson's Correlation Coefficient
          Academic Achievement
          Job Performance
          Professional Recognition
          Clinical Competence
          Workforce
          Comparative Studies
          Role Change
          Personnel Retention
          Nonparametric Statistics
          Employment Status
          Education, Continuing
          Age Factors
          Race Factors
          Ethnic Groups
          Language
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Introduction: The Certified Midwife (CM) credential was introduced by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives in 1996 to increase the midwifery workforce and provide an equivalent direct entry pathway to midwifery practice without prior nursing education. No research has compared the professional experiences of certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs) and CMs. This study compared the career trajectories and experiences of CNMs and CMs who graduated from the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University Midwifery Program between 1997 and 2019. Methods: Using a cross‐sectional design, a survey was sent to 237 alumni. The survey included items on satisfaction with chosen education pathways, role transition from student to midwife, and professional experiences. Mann‐Whitney U tests and Pearson's χ2 tests of independence were used to assess group differences. Results: Of the 237 individuals invited to participate in the survey, 131 completed the survey in sufficient detail to be included in the analysis. Participants reported similar career trajectories, satisfaction with their education preparation, measures of job performance, longevity as a midwife, and overall satisfaction with their careers. CMs were significantly more likely to express dissatisfaction with their education route, largely due to a lack of geographic mobility. CMs and CNMs experienced significantly different levels of respect from professional colleagues in their first and current or most recent positions. There were no significant differences in reported clinical competence or perceived success between groups. Discussion: This study demonstrates that CNMs and CMs have equal career success and satisfaction. Expanding the geographic mobility of CMs by expanding state licensure could enhance career satisfaction and potentially increase the number of students interested in becoming CMs. Because both the CNM and CM pathways produce qualified midwives, the American College of Nurse‐Midwives and state affiliates should continue to seek CM licensure with an identical scope of practice to CNMs in all 50 states.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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