Which of the following activities is within the scope of practice for a certified nurse midwife?

• A. Deliver a baby
• B. Intubate a patient
• C. Perform surgery
• D. Perform a tracheostomy

Answer: (A)

Delivering a baby is within a certified nurse midwife’s scope because CNMs are trained and certified to provide obstetric care, including labor and delivery, as well as immediate postpartum management. They attend births, monitor labor progress, manage normal and low-risk deliveries, and provide newborn assessment and education following birth. This is the core area where CNMs practice independently within their certification and collaborating healthcare settings.

In contrast, intubating a patient is an advanced airway management procedure typically reserved for physicians or other providers with specific anesthesia or critical-care authority. Performing surgery, such as any operative procedure, and performing a tracheostomy are surgical interventions that fall outside the midwifery scope and usually require surgical training and physician oversight.