Abortion education in CNM programs

Published

I've been looking at multiple CNM programs and am finding it difficult to tell which programs provide abortion education as part of their curriculum. Does anyone know programs that definitely do or do not provide this?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

Honestly you'd have to contact them individually, there's no one place to search for specialized offerings like that in each program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks! I'm in the process of doing so- I'll post the results here as I get them. Was just asking in case anyone could short-cut this process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.
1 hour ago, Greyiris34 said:

Thanks! I'm in the process of doing so- I'll post the results here as I get them. Was just asking in case anyone could short-cut this process.

Understood! I wish I knew. It's probably a mixed bag.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.

I can help point to a few programs that I know about. UCSF in San Francisco just got funding last year to incorporate more abortion training into their program. But someone in that program will need to chime in to provide further details. But I do know that California has some of the more progressive laws and policies when it comes to abortion.

Yale’s program does touch upon medicated and aspiration abortion in our maternity classes but it isn’t taught formally within the curriculum. There isn’t a class on abortion or abortion care. If you want to learn and be able to conduct abortions when you become a provider you will need to seek out additional information and training independently.

Hope this helps.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have no info on any midwifery education programs on whether or not they teach it, but I would encourage any student nurse (or student nurse midwife or student nurse practitioner) who is interested in learning more about abortion care to look at the Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health Abortion Care Elective to see if you can get it delivered on your campus.

edit to add link: http://nsrh.org/Abortion-Care-Education-(ACE)

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 5/22/2019 at 3:15 PM, Greyiris34 said:

I've been looking at multiple CNM programs and am finding it difficult to tell which programs provide abortion education as part of their curriculum. Does anyone know programs that definitely do or do not provide this?

I’m glad you posted this! I am wondering the same thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

My school had one lecture about abortion techniques. No option to rotate clinically ? I take students all the time, I love it. You can always reach out to local abortion clinics to see if you can initiate a relationship with your school- i bet you will get a lot of positive responses.

Abortion is basic women's health care. Midwives have a responsibility to understand the techniques, and students deserve the opportunity to have clinical practice if desired.

Even though most states bar non-MDs from performing MVA abortion, it is *well* within entry level CNM scope, as is med AB. The same techniques are commonly used by midwives for miscarriage management , so even if you don't want to provide abortion services, these skills are important.

Certainly no one should be required to participate in actual abortions if they don't want to. But at the very least, we need to understand the process so we can help counsel our patients.

*Interesting to note that appropriately trained midwives can use MVA to manage a nonviable pregnancy. Yet are legally barred from using the exact same skills to manage a termination. Hmmmmmmm.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion