NARM Accountability Update
Accountability provides reassurance to families who choose CPMs as their care providers and to states who utilize the CPM for legal recognition. Professional conduct is expected for all CPMs and student midwives. When there are concerns regarding the conduct of a CPM, NARM has an Accountability process to evaluate the concerns.
Currently, NARM Complaint Reviews are conducted by a committee of CPMs in the community of the midwife under review. The disadvantage has always been that it can be challenging to recruit enough midwives, especially in areas with small numbers of midwives. The shift to virtual Complaint Review during the past three years revealed the benefits of drawing from a larger pool of midwives to evaluate competency and professional conduct.
NARM is developing a process to assemble and train CPMs from across the nation to serve on a standing national committee to provide consistent and professional Complaint Reviews. We anticipate this will improve the process to meet the needs of a growing community of CPMs.
Watch future eBlasts for more information and consider whether you would like to apply to join this committee when the application process begins.
Community-Based NRP Instructor Directory
In October 2022, NARM created a survey to assess the availability of NRP instruction for community midwives. As reported in December 2022, over 95% of CPMs responded they were able to access local NRP instruction.
The surveyed CPMs were encouraged to share the NRP courses available to them. As a result, NARM created an online directory of community-based NRP instructors for those CPMs who continue to experience difficulties obtaining NRP courses. The directory is available here.
Some Reminders
NRP Advanced Requirement
With the NRP 8th edition update in 2021, the AAP has created two course pathways for providers (see details highlighted below). NARM acknowledges that some of the advanced skills such as IO administration of newborn medications and Umbilical Vein Catheterization are not essential for CPMs who attend community based births, however we recognize that completion of the NRP Advanced course is important to have a basic understanding of the full AAP NRP algorithm.
NRP Advanced is required effective March 1, 2023 for certification or recertification.
NARM will continue to accept unexpired NRP Essentials (plus BLS for Health Care Providers) as meeting the NRP Requirement for certification and recertification applications after March 1, 2023. However, NARM encourages taking NRP Advanced, if available prior to March 1, 2023.
NARM’s Online Application Program
Have you registered with Certemy yet? Certemy is the online portal used for certification, recertification, and preceptor applications. System access is available for all active, inactive, and retired CPMs, preceptors, and current applicants-in-process with the exception of PEP. In December 2020, NARM sent an email with information on how to log in to the Certemy system.
If you haven’t logged in or need assistance, please email info@narm.org.
eBlast emailed April 26, 2023