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Overview
The Nurse-Midwifery concentration is a sequential 6-term, full-time
graduate program of studies consisting of 55 credit hours including more than
1000 hours of clinical experience. The degree to be awarded at completion of the
program is the Master of Science in Nursing. Graduates will be eligible for
national nurse midwifery certification and licensure in New Mexico and all other
U.S. states after successful completion of the American Midwifery Certification
Board’s certification exam.
Because graduate education in nursing builds on the baccalaureate curriculum, students are expected to enter the program with prerequisite coursework and clinical nursing competence. Specific areas that will be built upon, but not repeated at the graduate level include: basic anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; introductory pharmacology; basic growth and development; basic physical and psychosocial assessment; basic statistics; interviewing and development of therapeutic relationships; and community health nursing. Students who seek admission without some of these competencies will need to take personal responsibility for acquiring them. The College of Nursing and the University of New Mexico have coursework, clinical opportunities, and faculty available to assist students, if necessary, prior to entering the program.
Program Objectives
At the completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared
to:
Analyze theoretical and empirical knowledge from the sciences and humanities, and apply this knowledge to the care of women and their infants within a family and community context.
Identify the influence of economic, social, and political trends on the effectiveness of health care delivery to women and infants.
Provide safe and satisfying primary health care that supports individual rights and self-determination in a variety of settings, with emphasis on underserved and rural client populations. This includes clinical management of normal labor and delivery, care of the neonate, and well-woman care.
Apply skills in health assessment, teaching, and counseling, with emphasis on self-help, wellness, and the prevention of illness and disability.
Communicate both verbally and in writing with various members of the health care delivery system, including keeping adequate documentation of nurse-midwifery care.
Demonstrate collaborative relationships with other health team members and with community groups for the planning, management, and provision of health care for women and their infants.
Demonstrate the socialization and conceptual awareness of the role and responsibilities of the nurse-midwife.
Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth and the growth of the profession through participation in professional organizations, community, and scholarly activities, such as research, writing, and teaching.
Participate in quality assurance activities in the health care setting.
Exemplify the ethical and moral obligations of professional service while interacting with clients and society in general.
Admission Requirements
Hold a bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.S.N.) from an accredited college or university, with an upper-division major in nursing. (Graduates from non-accredited programs [N.L.N. or C.C.N.E.] and RN’s with baccalaureate degree in non-nursing fields are considered on an individual basis.)
At least one year of experience as a registered nurse
Have a minimum grade point average for baccalaureate work of B (3.0) or better.
Be registered in or eligible for nursing licensure in New Mexico with a New Mexico R.N. license obtained within the first term enrolled.
Complete of the online application. The online application can be accessed at http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/misc/applications.shtml. Letters of recommendation, letter of intent, and a professional resume are required as part of the application process. See the online application guidelines for further information.
An interview is required as part of the admissions process.
Students who seek admission with existing graduate
degrees in Nursing (Master's or Doctorate) will be able to pursue
the PNP curriculum as a Post Master's certificate. However, their
applications are considered along with all other applications.
