Small cohorts – 8:1 student-instructor ratio – and a large supportive alumni community.
We find your clinical placements.
Scholarship and grant dollars are available.
Program focuses on care for rural and underserved populations.
We are part of a large Health Sciences system.
High-tech learning in our Simulation Center.
Advanced practice nurses are health care leaders who know how to navigate the system. Who serve our beneficiaries and communities and address their evolving needs. Health care leaders who are well prepared to meet the challenges of modern health care, reduce costs, advance health equity and provide evidence-based care consistent with our mission at the UNM College of Nursing.
Our mission is to educate nurse-midwives to care for rural, diverse and under-resourced communities. We aim to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families through partnerships and community collaboration. We are committed to social justice and human dignity. Our faculty and graduates recognize the strengths and challenges of historically marginalized communities, embracing and prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion.
The philosophy aligns with that of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Donna Dineyazhe, MSN, CNM
Nichelle Salazar, DNP, CNM
No scrambling. No waiting. No guessing. We have a dedicated team to support all your clinical placement needs. Yes, that includes finding your clinical sites.
But that also includes all the details that could be overlooked. The clinical affairs team will ensure you are prepared and stay in compliance with all on-boarding requirements of your clinical sites.
Our students benefit greatly from a wide variety of clinical sites. Urban tertiary care and academic institutions, community-based health centers, birth centers, private small-town clinics and the Indian Health Service, just to name a few.
Midwifery is thriving in New Mexico. Midwifery is deeply rooted in our history–from indigenous healers, to traditional parteras, to the founding of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Our midwifery community is tightly connected and now 37% of all spontaneous vaginal births are attended by midwives in New Mexico, according to 2018 CDC data.
Nurse-midwives in New Mexico are well-respected and integrated into our healthcare system. Unlike other parts of the county, New Mexico nurse-midwives are licensed though the Department of Health and have full prescriptive authority. The state legislature supports our program and helped establish reimbursement for out-of-hospital birth from Medicaid.
What better location to study midwifery then right here in New Mexico where it all began? Where midwifery is honored and respected. Come learn with us.
Not from New Mexico? Visit NewMexico.org to learn about our state.
Our program is designed to teach and expose you to caring for the rural and underserved communities of New Mexico. We are unique in this mission.
Our students participate in clinical experiences outside of Albuquerque. They go all over New Mexico, serving those who need them the most. Learning happens through immersion and is guided in part by dedicated preceptors.
Our graduates live to serve this mission beyond our program. Over 80% of our graduates provide care to rural and/or underserved populations.
With our small cohorts you will work closely with our outstanding faculty. We emphasize the ACNM Core Values of inclusiveness, woman centered care and respect for physiologic processes, partnership, and advocacy.
Each of our nurse-midwifery faculty brings a unique skill set and focus. They bring diverse perspectives to the classroom, simulation lab and clinical experiences.
Our faculty hold leadership roles at UNM – Amy Levi PhD, CNM, is the HSC Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. They hold national leadership roles - Felina Ortiz, DNP, CNM, chair of ACNM’s National Midwives of Color Committee. They are leading researchers – Sharon Ruyak PhD, CNM. Her research focuses on the bio-behavioral contributions of chronic stress to adverse pregnancy outcomes in the maternal-infant care.
Most of our faculty are active in clinical practice. They are up to date on clinical standards and the real-world practice environment. Our faculty are committed to your success.
We value our diverse communities, students and faculty, and we strive to promote equity and advocate for inclusiveness.
In our courses we address topics such as racism, privilege, racial inequity, implicit bias, historical trauma and more. We value our partnerships with our community to enhance our understanding and learning.
Learn more about UNM’s Division of Diversity and Equity and Inclusion; the Health Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the UNM College of Nursing Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Application opens: August 15
Priority deadline: December 1
Final deadline: April 1
A BSN degree from an accredited college or university. Options are available for RNs with
a BA or BS in another field.
Current RN license.
1 year of work as a Registered Nurse or in a closely related health care field.
No GRE or GMAT required.
For the full list of admissions criteria and application, click below.
The goal is simple–become a certified nurse-midwife.
Stay goal oriented. Take a look at the current nurse-midwifery jobs and salaries in New Mexico and beyond.
All graduate students who reside in a Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) state are eligible for the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), a tuition‐reciprocity arrangement.
For more information, visit our WICHE page.
The UNM College of Nursing has been awarded two grants to support enrolled students. These funds can help offset educational expenses and reduce student debt after graduation. Learn more about eligibility and funding opportunities.
They are leading nurse scientists, highly regarded practitioners and exemplary educators.
But most importantly they are supportive. Hyper-focused on your success, online and in person.
At UNM we are a culture of contrast rather than a contrast of cultures. What makes us different makes us strong. Our diverse backgrounds – your diverse backgrounds – enhance our insights and learning. Raise awareness and respect for all the different ways of being and thinking.
We don’t just talk about diversity. We put it into practice. Resulting in a deeper connection to all your future patients. From the beginning of your education, you will serve the underserved. You will walk with empathy and understanding of others.
Learn more about your education, curriculum, academic calendar, clinical and simulation experiences.
There is a lot of information to consider as you prepare to apply to our DNP program. We know you have questions. We have answers.
Admissions & Recruitment Office
College of Nursing
Building 214
Suite 1501
1 University of New Mexico
Interim Nurse-Midwifery Concentration Coordinator, Clinician Educator, Associate Professor
Felina Ortiz, DNP, RN, CNM, FACNM