Policies

Policies are approved by the Council to guide the professional knowledge, skills and judgment needed to practice midwifery safely in Nova Scotia.

The title “midwife” is reserved under Section 25 of the Midwifery Act.

In the Midwifery Act and Regulations, one of the prerequisites to active-practising licensure is graduation from an approved Canadian university midwifery education program.

Continuity of care is a fundamental principle of Canadian midwifery practice and is highly valued by clients seeking midwifery services.

Registered midwives with an active-practising (clinical) or provisional (clinical) licence must be certified every two years in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Registered midwives with an active practising (clinical) or provisional licence (clinical) must complete a course or assessment in obstetric emergency skills every two years.1

Provincial and hospital guidelines, policies and protocols must be adhered to whenever the midwife is ordering or administering controlled drugs and substances on her own authority.

The midwife promotes informed choice throughout the childbearing
experience.

Promotion of and respect for the client’s informed choice is a fundamental
principle of midwifery practice.

Registered midwives with an active practising (clinical) or provisional (clinical) licence must complete a program or course in fetal health surveillance (FHS) every three (3) years.

Registered Midwives must obtain specialized training from a MRCNS approved course for inserting intrauterine contraception (IUC).

Midwives are expected to recognize circumstances when it is appropriate to
order diagnostic tests that are normally associated with low risk maternity/
newborn care.

Midwives must display their licences at their place of employment