A profile of Colorado nurse--midwives: implications for health care.
Nurse-midwives provide significant health care to underserved and vulnerable women, yet there is limited information about the nature of nurse-midwifery practices and compensation for services. This study reports the results of a Colorado statewide survey of nurse-midwives (N = 217). Electronic survey was utilized to detail practice in seven areas: demographics, type of practice, compensation, leadership, legislative priorities,teaching involvement, and practice satisfaction. Responses (N = 114) were analyzed using SPSS 13.0. Results found wide variation in compensation and practice types. Respondents largely worked in urban settings, cared for low to moderate risk patients, and were generally older and White. Restriction from medical staff membership, prescriptive authority constraints, and liability issues were practice limitations. While teaching a wide variety of learners, nurse-midwives do limited mentoring of nurse-midwifery students, a finding which is concerning given the decreasing numbers of nurse-midwives. Findings are compared to known national data, with implications for the provision of health care services detailed.
Hastings-Tolsma
Marie
M
College of Nursing Education 2 North, University of Colorado-Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. marie.hastingstolsma@UCDenver.edu
Tasaka
Yuki
Y
Burton
Abby
A
Goodman
Steffie
S
Emeis
Cathy L
CL
Patterson
Elisa
E
Bennett
Penelope
P
Koschoreck
Kate
K
Ruyak
Sharon
S
Tanner
Tanya
T
Vaughn
Tricia
T
Williams
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000458:organization & administration; D003120:Colorado; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008504:Medical Staff Privileges / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires