Credentialing and privileging nurse-midwives

Nurse-midwives are one category of advanced practice nurse increasingly seeking hospital privileges to admit patients on their own recognizance. This article provides a framework for those health care institutions and insurers who are credentialing nurse-midwives. Nurse-midwifery educational preparation, licensure, scope of practice, relationships with collaborative physicians, and professional liability are discussed. Standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations that pertain to credentialing and privileging nonphysician providers are reviewed. Various privileging routes are explored and directions recommended.