According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients. | 100% |
| Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight. | 100% |
| Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information. | 99% |
| Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms. | 98% |
| Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management. | 98% |
| Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations. | 98% |
| Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others. | 97% |
| Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests. | 96% |
| Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients. | 96% |
| Educate patients and family members regarding prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconception care. | 95% |
| Document findings of physical examinations. | 95% |
| Perform physical examinations by taking vital signs, checking neurological reflexes, examining breasts, or performing pelvic examinations. | 95% |
| Write information in medical records or provide narrative summaries to communicate patient information to other health care providers. | 94% |
| Provide primary health care, including pregnancy and childbirth, to women. | 93% |
| Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise. | 89% |
| Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in midwifery. | 87% |
| Instruct student nurse midwives, medical students, or residents on the birthing process. | 84% |
| Establish practice guidelines for specialty areas such as primary health care of women, care of the childbearing family, and newborn care. | 81% |
| Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, health care teams, or the community. | 73% |
| Conduct clinical research on topics such as maternal or infant health care, contraceptive methods, breastfeeding, and gynecological care. | 70% |
| Manage newborn care during the first weeks of life. | 68% |
