[1] Nurse midwives can function as primary healthcare providers for women and most often provide medical care for relatively healthy women, whose health and births are considered uncomplicated rather than high risk, as well as their neonates.

Women with high risk pregnancies can often receive the benefits of midwifery care from a nurse midwife in collaboration with a physician.

The nurse midwife may work closely or in collaboration with an obstetrician & gynecologist, who provides consultation and assistance to patients who develop complications or have complex medical histories or disease(s).

Nurse midwives practice in hospitals and private practice medical clinics and may also deliver babies in birthing centers and attend at-home births.

[3][4] In some cases, nurse midwives may also provide care to the male partner of their female patient in areas of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health.