Introduction
For this assignment, it was chosen to compare an Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) specialty of Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) with the specialty of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) that fall under the category of Primary Care Providers (PCP).
Educational Requirements
To qualify for the position of a CNM, a nurse should graduate a bachelor’s program in nursing and acquire a registration within the appropriate jurisdiction (or state). Better chances of entering the profession of CNMs are associated with getting a master’s degree in nursing for getting accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) (“How to become a certified nurse-midwife (CNM),” 2017). To become an FNP, it is recommended to obtain a master’s in nursing and an RN and NP licensure. Therefore, the educational requirements for FNPs and CNMs are similar, with the only difference, including CNMs having to get accreditation from ACME.
Competencies
Core competencies of CNM include the hallmarks of midwifery such as integration of clinical evidence into practice, promotion of care continuity, care to vulnerable populations, the promotion of woman-centered care, the empowerment of women, and so on. Relevant competencies of FNPs include population-focused care, the provision of pediatric acute and primary care, neonatal care, caring for women’s health, etc. The competencies of CNMs and FNPs are similar in that both professions provide care to women and infants; however, FNPs provide care throughout a long period while CNMs focus on specific cases of pregnancies, births, menopause, and so on.
Scope of Practice
There are also similarities and differences in the practitioners’ scope of practice. For example, CNMs can work with women at different points of their lives to ensure high-quality gynecologic health care; this means that CNMs have a predominant focus on reproductive health and are closely involved in caring for women who are pregnant and while they are giving birth. Importantly, CNMs also provide care to newborns for several weeks after their birth. FNPs, on the other hand, have a broader scope of practice compared to CNMs since they are responsible for monitoring families’ and individuals’ health. Thus, CNMs serve patients of all ages and genders regardless of their health needs (“Family nurse practitioner,” 2016). This means that they can also work with pregnant women and infants; however, their practice is not limited to reproductive health.
With regards to necessary licensing, credentialing, and regulation of practice, there are several differences between CNMs and FNPs. CNMs are required to get certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board while FNPs should apply for the American Academy of Nurse Practice Certification Program; both certificates are to be renewed every five years with additional fees paid (“Certified nurse-midwife (CNM),” 2016). Regulation of the practice of both CNMs and FNPs are performed by state laws, which can regulate a range of procedures such as requirements of collaboration, practice scope, licensure requirements, and so on. Therefore, CNMs and FNPs are expected to comply with state laws and act according to them with regards to following standards of practice or getting to know the basis for license renewal, suspension, or revocation.
Conclusion
To conclude, the practice of CNMs and FNPs can be similar with regards to treating patients (e.g., women and newborns); also, the requirements for education are also similar except licensing procedures. However, FNPs have a broader scope of practice with regards to treating different types of patients, while CNMs focus on the reproductive health of women.
References
Certified nurse-midwife (CNM). (2016). Web.
Family nurse practitioner. (2016). Web.
How to become a certified nurse-midwife (CNM). (2017). Web.