Barbara M. Purnell, CNM

Midwife

Ms. Barbara M. Purnell is a Midwife in Brazil, IN with special training and skill in providing holistic, non-invasive care, education, and emotional support for pregnant women before, during, and after birthing. As a Midwife, Barbara M. Purnell, CNM performs healthcare services for women throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum adjustment to motherhood. Midwifery is the profession of assisting women in prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum transition, informed by the belief that pregnancy and childbirth are natural life processes, not medical conditions. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Midwives include vaginal yeast infections, post partum depression, unnecessary technological or pharmaceutical interventions. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Midwives include pelvic exams, pap smears, breast exams, birth plan creation, parenting education, monitoring and support during labor and childbirth, breastfeeding instruction, newborn care education, and postpartum emotional support.

A Midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy birth, offering expert individualized care, education, counseling, and support to a woman and her newborn throughout the childbearing cycle. A Midwife is a skilled and independent practitioner who has undergone formalized training. Midwives are not required to be nurses and may be trained via multiple routes of education (apprenticeship, workshop, formal classes, or programs, etc., usually a combination). The educational background requirements and licensing requirements vary by state. The Midwife may or may not be certified by a state or national organization.

Registered Nurse

A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive either a diploma from a hospital program, an associate degree in nursing (A.D.N.) or a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (B.S.N.), who is licensed or certified by the state, and is practicing within the scope of that license or certification. R.N.'s assist patient in recovering and maintaining their physical or mental health. They assist physicians during treatments and examinations and administer medications. (2) A provider who is trained and educated in a formal nursing education program at an accredited school of nursing, passes a national certification examination, and is licensed by the state to practice nursing. The individual provides nursing services to patients or clients in areas such as health promotion, disease prevention, acute and chronic care and restoration and maintenance of health across the life span.