U of Indianapolis Nurse Midwife Masters Program

Nurses General Nursing

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Nurse-midwife degree offered

University of Indianapolis will help run the program.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Starting this fall, the University of Indianapolis will offer a three-year, master's-level program for aspiring nurse-midwives.

The program is being run in conjunction with HealthNet Community Health Centers in Indianapolis, which is affiliated with Clarian Health and Methodist Hospital.

Indiana has only one certified nurse-midwife per 100,000 residents, ranking the state 43rd, program coordinator Barb Winningham said. The national average is 2.1 nurse-midwives per 100,000 people.

There are 71 nurse-midwives in Indiana - registered nurses with nurse-midwife degrees.

"When I heard that U of I was going to do this program, I was thrilled," said Janice Schoonzeld, 50, an Indianapolis nurse who has enrolled. "It will allow me to stay here and not have to leave family and friends."

More importantly, she and other supporters say, a degree program in Indiana will lead to better access to less-expensive health care and more choices for women who want different types of childbirth experiences.

Nurse-midwives provide prenatal and gynecological care, deliver babies, except for Caesarean and forceps-assisted births, and care for newborns.

When Winningham started as a nurse-midwife at HealthNet in 1991, it performed 300 to 400 births annually. Now, the number has grown to 2,200 births in the Indianapolis area.

Under the program, HealthNet nurse-midwives will teach the courses and supervise each student's clinical work with patients and hospital deliveries.

Graduates will take the American College of Nurse-Midwives exam to become state certified.

A few counties have no obstetricians-gynecologists or nurse practitioners, and other areas are underserved, said Anita Siccardi, U of I's director of graduate nursing programs.

Dr. Bernie Emkes, past president of the Indiana State Medical Association, said some doctors are concerned about midwives assisting in births that would require an emergency Caesarean birth.

"I think there is a place for midwives or nurse practitioners in the health centers and the rural areas of the state," he said. But, he added, they have to well-supervised and have the proper backup to handle emergencies.

I saw this in the paper the other day!

I got my BSN from U of I, so I'm excited they finally got it! :D

Originally posted by Lausana

Dr. Bernie Emkes, past president of the Indiana State Medical Association, said some doctors are concerned about midwives assisting in births that would require an emergency Caesarean birth.

"I think there is a place for midwives or nurse practitioners in the health centers and the rural areas of the state," he said. But, he added, they have to well-supervised and have the proper backup to handle emergencies.

Wow, is this guy out of touch or what? He must work with MDs who are at the bedside constantly "just in case" there is a need for an emergency C/S. Unlike the rest of us who are the ones in the room, doing the work and calling the physician when we need them.

That guy is an idiot. His statement is SO inaccurate as to be absolutely ridiculous. Every study I know of shows better outcomes, lower c/s and healthier moms and babies with CNMs.

All the more reason this CNM program is necessary. Hopefully someone will knock this guy out of the dark ages. UUUGGGHHH.

I'm glad I work in Oregon where we have lots of CNMs who happened to be respected for the job they do!!

yeah! i am happy to hear that a 50 year old is going to enroll. i am in my late 30's and hope to be a cnm one day. i keep thinking when i am ready, i'll be too old. i've got 3 kids and just couldn't juggle the school right now. i've been a nurse for 16 yrs. 13 in ob so i consider myself pretty lucky. maybe when i'm ready, we'll have a program close by too. cnm's are a great option. we had the greatest speaker at our hospital last fall who was in lg. practice w/ physicians and other cnm's, but at one time, she had her own homebirth practice. what a gutsy woman and very nice too.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

kewwwwwwwwwwwllll

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