Midwives are health professionals who provide primary care to women with low-risk pregnancies, from conception until six weeks after birth. \n
The training that students of midwifery receive happens in the classroom and in work placements. Programs are focused on the stages of midwifery care: antepartum (pre-childbirth), intrapartum (labor through delivery), postpartum (following delivery), and newborn care. They cover physiology, primary care of women, reproductive healthcare of childbearing women, fetal wellbeing and complications, and related pharmacology and medicines management.
", "display_order": 1, "created_at": "2019-10-01T11:36:15.883937-07:00", "updated_at": "2021-11-18T13:55:45.667510-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 1388, "page": 1, "title": "Program Options", "summary_markdown": "**Associate Degree in Midwifery \u2013 Two Year Duration** \r\n**Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Midwifery \u2013 Two to Three Year Duration** \r\nAt the undergraduate level, studies in midwifery most often lead to an associate degree. Some schools offer a bachelor\u2019s in the field. In some cases, the difference between the two degrees is essentially in name only, meaning that both programs combine lecture classes in the major and a practicum experience with some general education courses in mathematics, English composition, communications, and the social sciences. In other cases, the bachelor\u2019s program is longer and is distinguished by a more extensive clinical practicum. \r\n\r\nThe Associate or Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Midwifery is granted upon completion of program requirements and passing of the exam administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Passing this exam often fulfills licensing requirements, but licensing laws do vary from state to state. \r\n\r\nHere is a snapshot of the major components of undergraduate study in midwifery: \r\n\r\n**Human Life Science and Math** \r\n- Anatomy and Physiology \r\n- Fetal Development \r\n- Genetic Screening \r\n- Applied Microbiology \r\n- Fundamental Math \r\n- Fundamental Chemistry \r\n- Child Growth and Development \r\n\r\n**Critical Thinking and Psychological Issues** \r\n- Communication and Counseling \r\n- Cultural Issues \r\n- Evolution of Human Sexuality \r\n- Perinatal Education Including Lactation \r\n- Analytical Writing \r\n\r\n**Antepartum (Pre-Childbirth) Management** \r\n- Basic Skills \r\n- Risk Screening \r\n- Physical Assessment \r\n- Provision of Care \r\n- Complications \r\n- Pharmacology \r\n- Nutrition \r\n- Diagnostic Lab Tests and Procedures \r\n- Observation and Charting \r\n- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) \r\n\r\n**Intrapartum (the time period from the onset of labor through delivery) Management** \r\n- Basic Skills \r\n- Risk Screening \r\n- Physical Assessment \r\n- Provision of Care \r\n- Complications \r\n- Pharmacology \r\n- Diagnostic Lab Tests and Procedures \r\n- Observation and Charting \r\n- Intravenous (IV) Therapy \r\n\r\n**Postpartum (Following Childbirth) Management** \r\n- Basic Skills \r\n- Risk Screening \r\n- Physical Assessment \r\n- Provision of Care \r\n- Complications \r\n- Pharmacology \r\n- Diagnostic Lab Tests and Procedures \r\n- Observation and Charting \r\n\r\n**Newborn Management** \r\n- Basic Skills \r\n- Risk Screening \r\n- Physical Assessment \r\n- Provision of Care \r\n- Complications \r\n- Pharmacology \r\n- Diagnostic Lab Tests and Procedures \r\n- Observation and Charting \r\n- Neonatal Resuscitation \r\n\r\n**Well Women Reproductive Healthcare** \r\n- Risk Screening \r\n- Physical Assessment \r\n- Provision of Care \r\n- Diagnostic Lab Tests and Procedures \r\n- Family Planning \r\n- Pharmacology \r\n- Observation and Charting \r\n\r\n**Professional Issues** \r\n- History of Midwifery \r\n- Ethics \r\n- Laws and Regulations \r\n- Protocols \r\n- Community Health \r\n- Out of Hospital Birth \r\n- Business and Professional Communications \r\n- Statistics \r\n- Midwifery Literature \r\n\r\n**Clinical Requirements** \r\n- Observer \u2013 births in an out of hospital setting \r\n- Assistant Under Supervision \u2013 initial prenatal assists / prenatal assists / birth assists / newborn exam assists / postpartum exam assists \r\n- Primary Care Provider Under Supervision \u2013 family planning / initial visits / prenatal consults / birth as primary / newborn exams / postpartum exams", "content_markdown": "**Master\u2019s Degree in Nursing-Midwifery \u2013 Two to Three Year Duration** \r\nTo be accepted into a master\u2019s program in nursing-midwifery generally requires a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Nursing. Depending on the school, students with a bachelor\u2019s in a non-nursing discipline may be admitted if they meet varying specified requirements. \r\n\r\n**Post-Master\u2019s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery \u2013 One Year Duration** \r\nNot all post-master\u2019s certificate programs in midwifery have exactly the same admission requirements, but in general candidates must have earned at least a Master of Science in Nursing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be a nationally certified advanced practice registered nurse, and hold a current and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license. \r\n\r\nGraduates of master\u2019s programs and post-master\u2019s certificate programs often go on to assume leadership, director-level roles within the field. \r\n\r\nHere is an overview of the kinds of courses that make up these two graduate-level programs: \r\n\r\n- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology \u2013 organ systems function and dysfunction, the genetic basis of disease, new approaches to disease and symptom management \r\n- Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making \u2013 laboratory/clinical course; topics include provider-patient interaction, data collection, and formulating hypotheses \r\n- Healthcare of Women and Primary Care \u2013 clinical approach to assisting women with the most common health problems; health promotion and health maintenance \r\n- Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice \u2013 advanced pharmacology and therapeutics of various common diseases and conditions found in the acute care and primary care setting \r\n- Complementary / Alternative Therapies in Women\u2019s Health \u2013 fundamentals of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as applied to women\u2019s healthcare \r\n- Well Women Healthcare: Theory \u2013 the management and evaluation of physical, emotional, socio-cultural, and educational needs of gynecologic healthcare \r\n- Well Women Healthcare: Clinical \u2013 promoting and maintaining wellness, clinical decision making, systematic health interview, physical assessment, interpretation of laboratory findings, and diagnosis and treatment of gynecological problems \r\n- Public Policy Leadership in Healthcare \u2013 the effect of policy on individual/family user of health services, especially on populations living near or below the poverty level \r\n- Fetal Evaluation \u2013 developing knowledge relating to assessment of fetal wellbeing; fetal complications and high risk pregnancy; the physics of ultrasound, pulse echo imaging, and other techniques; practice of ultrasound skills \r\n- Healthcare of Childbearing Women: Theory \u2013 theory and practice related to nurse-midwifery / nurse practitioner management of the normal pregnant woman; antepartum strategies to reduce childbirth complications \r\n- Healthcare of Childbearing Women: Clinical \u2013 physical, psychosocial, and educational management of women during pregnancy and postpartum \r\n- Introduction to Research Methods and Design \u2013 understanding nursing research methods; evaluating research results for application to practice; statistical techniques \r\n- Intrapartum, Postpartum, and Newborn Care: Theory \u2013 anatomy and physiology relevant to the care of women and their families during the intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn periods; managing childbirth emergencies and medical complications \r\n- Intrapartum, Postpartum, and Newborn Care: Clinical \u2013 related clinical assignments \r\n- Professional Issues in Midwifery \u2013 contemporary issues facing the nurse-midwifery profession; education, certification, and practice; ethical, legal, and political issues \r\n- Integration I \u2013 integration of theory and clinical practice in women\u2019s outpatient care; teaching rounds, case presentations, and seminars \r\n- Integration II: Midwifery Integration \u2013 integration of theory and clinical practice in women\u2019s healthcare with emphasis on intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care; teaching rounds, case presentations, and seminars", "content_html": "
Master\u2019s Degree in Nursing-Midwifery \u2013 Two to Three Year Duration
\nTo be accepted into a master\u2019s program in nursing-midwifery generally requires a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Nursing. Depending on the school, students with a bachelor\u2019s in a non-nursing discipline may be admitted if they meet varying specified requirements.
\n
Post-Master\u2019s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery \u2013 One Year Duration
\nNot all post-master\u2019s certificate programs in midwifery have exactly the same admission requirements, but in general candidates must have earned at least a Master of Science in Nursing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be a nationally certified advanced practice registered nurse, and hold a current and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license.
\n
Graduates of master\u2019s programs and post-master\u2019s certificate programs often go on to assume leadership, director-level roles within the field.
\n
Here is an overview of the kinds of courses that make up these two graduate-level programs:
\n
\n- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology \u2013 organ systems function and dysfunction, the genetic basis of disease, new approaches to disease and symptom management
\n- Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making \u2013 laboratory/clinical course; topics include provider-patient interaction, data collection, and formulating hypotheses
\n- Healthcare of Women and Primary Care \u2013 clinical approach to assisting women with the most common health problems; health promotion and health maintenance
\n- Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice \u2013 advanced pharmacology and therapeutics of various common diseases and conditions found in the acute care and primary care setting
\n- Complementary / Alternative Therapies in Women\u2019s Health \u2013 fundamentals of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as applied to women\u2019s healthcare
\n- Well Women Healthcare: Theory \u2013 the management and evaluation of physical, emotional, socio-cultural, and educational needs of gynecologic healthcare
\n- Well Women Healthcare: Clinical \u2013 promoting and maintaining wellness, clinical decision making, systematic health interview, physical assessment, interpretation of laboratory findings, and diagnosis and treatment of gynecological problems
\n- Public Policy Leadership in Healthcare \u2013 the effect of policy on individual/family user of health services, especially on populations living near or below the poverty level
\n- Fetal Evaluation \u2013 developing knowledge relating to assessment of fetal wellbeing; fetal complications and high risk pregnancy; the physics of ultrasound, pulse echo imaging, and other techniques; practice of ultrasound skills
\n- Healthcare of Childbearing Women: Theory \u2013 theory and practice related to nurse-midwifery / nurse practitioner management of the normal pregnant woman; antepartum strategies to reduce childbirth complications
\n- Healthcare of Childbearing Women: Clinical \u2013 physical, psychosocial, and educational management of women during pregnancy and postpartum
\n- Introduction to Research Methods and Design \u2013 understanding nursing research methods; evaluating research results for application to practice; statistical techniques
\n- Intrapartum, Postpartum, and Newborn Care: Theory \u2013 anatomy and physiology relevant to the care of women and their families during the intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn periods; managing childbirth emergencies and medical complications
\n- Intrapartum, Postpartum, and Newborn Care: Clinical \u2013 related clinical assignments
\n- Professional Issues in Midwifery \u2013 contemporary issues facing the nurse-midwifery profession; education, certification, and practice; ethical, legal, and political issues
\n- Integration I \u2013 integration of theory and clinical practice in women\u2019s outpatient care; teaching rounds, case presentations, and seminars
\n- Integration II: Midwifery Integration \u2013 integration of theory and clinical practice in women\u2019s healthcare with emphasis on intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care; teaching rounds, case presentations, and seminars
\n
", "display_order": 2, "created_at": "2019-10-01T11:36:15.885071-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-02-22T12:48:15.801204-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 1388, "page": 1, "title": "Degrees Similar to Midwifery", "summary_markdown": "**[Nursing](/degrees/nursing-degree/)** \r\nThis degree program is designed to give students the knowledge and experience for safe, compassionate, evidence-based, competent, and ethical nursing practice. \r\n\r\n**[Pre-Medicine](/degrees/pre-medicine-degree/)** \r\nThere is no distinct pre-medicine degree. \u2018Pre-medicine\u2019 or \u2018pre-med\u2019 is merely a term that students planning to go to medical school use to describe their undergraduate studies. In fact, aspiring doctors enter med school having earned many different bachelor\u2019s degrees. A science program such as biology or chemistry is certainly a common choice, but it is not mandatory. In other words, a pre-med student can be a psychology major, a statistics major, or a Spanish major. The key for students is to incorporate into their studies the classes needed to apply to medical school. \r\n\r\n**[Public Health](/degrees/public-health-degree/)** \r\nStudents who enter degree programs in public health look at how access and lack of access to healthcare, health education, and funding affect the spread, treatment, and prevention of disease. Epidemiology \u2013 the science concerned with the spread and control of diseases and viruses \u2013 is the science at the heart of public health.", "content_markdown": "", "content_html": "
Nursing
\nThis degree program is designed to give students the knowledge and experience for safe, compassionate, evidence-based, competent, and ethical nursing practice.
\n
Pre-Medicine
\nThere is no distinct pre-medicine degree. \u2018Pre-medicine\u2019 or \u2018pre-med\u2019 is merely a term that students planning to go to medical school use to describe their undergraduate studies. In fact, aspiring doctors enter med school having earned many different bachelor\u2019s degrees. A science program such as biology or chemistry is certainly a common choice, but it is not mandatory. In other words, a pre-med student can be a psychology major, a statistics major, or a Spanish major. The key for students is to incorporate into their studies the classes needed to apply to medical school.
\n
Public Health
\nStudents who enter degree programs in public health look at how access and lack of access to healthcare, health education, and funding affect the spread, treatment, and prevention of disease. Epidemiology \u2013 the science concerned with the spread and control of diseases and viruses \u2013 is the science at the heart of public health.
", "display_order": 3, "created_at": "2019-10-01T11:36:15.886383-07:00", "updated_at": "2021-11-18T13:55:45.670267-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 1388, "page": 1, "title": "Skills You’ll Learn", "summary_markdown": "**Communication and Interpersonal Skills** \r\nMidwives are consistently called upon to interact, to listen, to understand, and to support their patients and their patients\u2019 families. \r\n\r\n**Cultural Awareness / Appreciation for Diversity** \r\nMidwives must work effectively with people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.\r\n\r\n**Empathy** \r\nWith the capacity to empathize, midwives are equipped to help expectant mothers manage the emotions that go along with pregnancy and childbirth. \r\n\r\n**Observation and Critical Thinking** \r\nThe abilities to assess situations and think critically about how to manage them is key to the role of a midwife. \r\n\r\n**Patience** \r\nThe work of guiding women through pregnancy and childbirth is not fast work. It requires dedication to the process and to the relationship with the mother-to-be. \r\n\r\n**Stress Management** \r\nThe work of a midwife can involve stressful situations. \r\n\r\n**Trust Building** \r\nExpectant mothers have to feel safe and supported if they are to trust a midwife with such a momentous time in their lives.", "content_markdown": "", "content_html": "
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
\nMidwives are consistently called upon to interact, to listen, to understand, and to support their patients and their patients\u2019 families.
\n
Cultural Awareness / Appreciation for Diversity
\nMidwives must work effectively with people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
\n
Empathy
\nWith the capacity to empathize, midwives are equipped to help expectant mothers manage the emotions that go along with pregnancy and childbirth.
\n
Observation and Critical Thinking
\nThe abilities to assess situations and think critically about how to manage them is key to the role of a midwife.
\n
Patience
\nThe work of guiding women through pregnancy and childbirth is not fast work. It requires dedication to the process and to the relationship with the mother-to-be.
\n
Stress Management
\nThe work of a midwife can involve stressful situations.
\n
Trust Building
\nExpectant mothers have to feel safe and supported if they are to trust a midwife with such a momentous time in their lives.
", "display_order": 4, "created_at": "2019-10-01T11:36:15.887523-07:00", "updated_at": "2021-11-18T13:55:45.671438-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 1388, "page": 1, "title": "What Can You Do with a Midwifery Degree?", "summary_markdown": "Because of the very specific nature of their degree, almost all graduates of midwifery programs go ON to work directly in the field as midwives. Their employment options include: \r\n\r\n- Private Clinical Practice / Home Birth Practitioners \r\n- Birthing Centers \r\n- OB-GYN (Obstetrics and Gynecology) Clinics \r\n- Public Health Clinics \r\n- Hospitals \r\n- Midwifery Education Programs \r\n- Military Bases \r\n- Government / Health Policy", "content_markdown": "", "content_html": "", "display_order": 5, "created_at": "2019-10-01T11:36:15.888649-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-02-22T12:46:24.961764-08:00"}], "degree_specializations": []}">
