Guidelines On How To Be A Portland Midwife

By Isabella Harrington


Many individuals are increasingly embracing the midwife career option. Compared to years back when the profession was not highly regarded, today it is has become a mainstream career option in the health care industry. Midwifes play the role of helping women during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal and prenatal care. If considering to become a Portland midwife, understanding some of this information can be very helpful.

There are many medical training institutions that offer midwifery courses especially colleges and universities. Individuals can either opt to do certification courses that take six months, associates for two years or the full term course for a Bachelors degree. The education qualifications you have highly influence the choice of program picked. Nurses who would wish to train in midwifery or new students choosing this career should be well informed.

The first step is enrolling in a midwifery course in a reputable training institution. There are many schools that offer this course. Some of them are offering online programs that benefit those who have tight schedules so as to study at their own pace. The most important thing to keep in mind before enrolling for any courses, is ensuring that the school you choose is accredited to offer training by the professional regulating board.

Completing the specified clinical training hours of the course is one of the most critical parts of the entire program. Training on-site takes up majority of the training time for this course. This is because you have to be taken through the actual procedures that are required to offer professional services. Clinical exposure helps you gain proper knowledge and skills on how to deliver babies and offer postnatal care. For those who take online courses, attending a local community health center is included in the course.

Once you have successfully completed the midwifery course, you have to pass the certification and license exams. Qualification exams have to be passed before you are granted the legal opportunity to practice your profession. The certification exams are usually offered in computer based formats at your training school or various testing centers accredited by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

After getting certified, you have to maintain a professional working status every three years. Re-certification exams also have to be done every five years. Certain guidelines have to be understood before taking exams. It is also important to stay prepared both financially and academically for the exams. The average cost of exams is $500.

Although most midwifery skills can be acquired through the training course, a few qualities are important so as to effectively offer services. Students must have good communication skills, know how to interact socially, be polite, respectful and other positive attributes. A detailed course syllabus is provided to students outlining how best to handle emotional needs of patients.

Once you have been certified as a professional Portland midwife, there are various employment options you can choose. You can work in birth centers, health departments or opt for health care team practice, hospital associated practice or pregnant women care and independent childbirth. Midwifery is a rewarding course in terms of monetary value and the industry continues to show incredible opportunity in the years to come.




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