Ying LAU
Abstract
In Hong Kong, the identity of nurse-midwife as an independent professional practitioner is not recognized in clinical practice. Although student midwives are told during training that they are able to look after healthy pregnant women, in the practice setting they are not given the chance to do so. The Asian economic crisis has result in calls for resources constraint in the health care system, and it is argued that the role of certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is thus necessary to develop in providing antenatal, natal and postnatal care in a cost-effective manner that will benefit both clients and the health care system as a whole; as many positive overseas cases would testify. A role enhancement plan of a strategic planning process will be discussed in this paper. It is hoped that the information and insights generated are valuable for future practice in Hong Kong SAR, China.
Key words: Certified nurse midwife, enhancement plan, Hong Kong