Nurse Midwifery
The Nurse Midwifery concentration is designed to provide the Registered Nurse with
specialized knowledge and skills to provide family-centered primary care for individuals
across the lifespan. Nurse-Midwifery offers a wide variety of professional career
pathways. Nurse-Midwives are known for their evidence-based care that is grounded
in affirming the power of women and individuals, honoring the normalcy of their lifecycles,
and prioritizing compassionate partnerships with their clients (American College of
Nurse-Midwives, ACNM). Beyond pregnancy and childbirth care, services provided by
Nurse-Midwives include primary care, annual gynecology wellness visits, family planning,
fertility, and newborn care during the first 28 days of life.
The Nurse Midwifery concentration includes pathways for those wishing to obtain initial Nurse Midwifery certification and for Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) with current certification. Coursework and supervised clinical experiences assist students to develop expertise in family-centered primary care across the lifespan. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) for the credential of Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). Graduates are expected to contribute to the delivery of quality healthcare through their implementation of evidence-based care and their ability to foster independence in an individual’s management of health.
Accreditation
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202-887-6791, http://www.ccneaccreditation.org, through December 31, 2034, and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing Doctor of Nurse Practice Nurse Midwifery (DNP NMW) concentration is preaccredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, 2000 Duke St., Alexandria, VA, 22314, 703-835-4565, ACME, for four years (February 2021-February 2025). The most recent class of Nurse Midwifery graduates at UT Health Science Center completed the program in May 2024. The attrition rate was 5%.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the midwifery educational program, graduates will have the knowledge and skills to:
Provide current, evidence-based care integrating holistic perspectives, a family-centered approach, ethical factors, and a focus on normalcy in the care of women and newborns using the Midwifery Management Process (Varney’s Midwifery).
- Gather relevant data from multiple sources
- Analyze and synthesize data to identify and prioritize problems
- Develop and implement management plans using the best available evidence
- Evaluate outcomes and modify management plans
- Evaluate clinical evidence from multiple sources
- Identify clinical challenges and participate in scholarship
- Apply clinical scholarship to improve outcomes in health care.
Assume the roles and responsibilities inherent in being a professional, certified nurse-midwife including leadership.
- Provide midwifery leadership to improve client/family outcomes and shape health systems
- Demonstrate professionalism and integrity in interactions with clients, colleagues, and systems.
- Collaborate with clients and colleagues to improve access to and quality of health care.
- Act as a catalyst for assuring access to timely, quality health care for all people, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, or social status.
- Participate in professional activities such as education and the political process.
Nurse Midwifery Faculty Practice
The UTHSC CON DNP-NMW faculty practice is a true collaborative practice model with a midwifery-led unit at Regional One Health, one of our practice partners. Our student nurse-midwives’ practice in a setting where all members of the healthcare team are respected and actively involved in the plan of care.
DNP Nurse Midwife Concentration Course Requirements
Core Courses
Course ID |
Title |
Credits |
NSG 876 |
Leadership and Health Policy |
3 |
NSG 877 |
Healthcare Economics |
3 |
NSG 824 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis |
3 |
NSG 827 |
Epidemiology for Clinical Practice |
3 |
NSG 855 |
DNP Advanced Practice Role Development |
2 |
NSG 910 |
Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing |
4 |
NSG 831 |
Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology |
3 |
NSG 830 |
Advanced Pharmacology |
3 |
NSG 947 |
DNP Project Seminar 1 |
1 |
NSG 948 |
DNP Project Design and Methods |
2 |
NSG 949 |
DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation |
2 |
NSG 950 |
DNP Project Seminar II |
1 |
|
Total |
30 |
Concentration-specific Courses
Course ID |
Title |
Credits |
NMW 800 |
Birth Matters: A Midwifery Perspective |
1 |
NMW 802 |
Midwifery Care of Women |
3 |
NMW 803 |
Midwifery Care of Women-Practicum |
2 |
FNP 808 |
Health Promotion for Family Nurse Practitioners |
2 |
NMW 804 |
Midwifery Care During the Antepartum Period |
3 |
NMW 805 |
Midwifery Care During the Antepartum Period-Practicum |
3 |
NMW 806 |
Midwifery Care During the Intrapartum and Postpartum Periods |
4 |
NMW 807 |
Midwifery Care During the Intrapartum and Postpartum Periods-Practicum |
3 |
NMW 808 |
Midwifery Care of the Newborn |
2 |
NMW 809 |
Integrated Midwifery Practicum |
2 |
NMW 810 |
Social Determinants of Health |
1 |
NMW 811 |
Complex Obstetrics and Midwifery Care |
2 |
NMW 812 |
Complex Obstetrics and Midwifery Care -Practicum |
2 |
NSG 926 |
DNP Synthesis Practicum: FNP |
6 |
|
Total |
36 |
|
Post-BSN DNP Total Credits: |
66 |
|
Total Clinical Hours: |
1200 |
.
.
Core Courses
Course ID |
Title |
Credits |
NSG 876 |
Leadership and Health Policy |
3 |
NSG 877 |
Healthcare Economics |
3 |
NSG 827 |
Epidemiology for Clinical Practice |
3 |
NSG 910 |
Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing |
4 |
NSG 947 |
DNP Project Seminar I |
1 |
NSG 948 |
DNP Project Design and Methods |
2 |
NSG 949 |
DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation |
2 |
NSG 950 |
DNP Project Seminar II |
1 |
|
Total |
19 |
Concentration-specific Courses
Course ID |
Title |
Credits |
FNP 806 |
Integrated Behavioral Health Care |
3 |
NSG 960 |
Directed Study: Complex Obstetrics |
4 |
NSG 926 |
DNP Synthesis Practicum: FNP |
6 |
|
Total |
13 |
|
Post-MSN DNP Total Credits: |
32 |
|
Total Clinical Hours: |
480 |
Individual course details and descriptions can be viewed in the College of Nursing section
of the 2020-2021 Academic Bulletin.
- Individual course details and descriptions can be viewed in the College of Nursing section of the 2023-2024 Academic Bulletin.
In addition the technical and performance standards expected of all students in educational programs in the College of Nursing, students in the DNP program are also expected to possess the mental, auditory, visual, sensory, strength, manual dexterity, and communication skills to:
- Perform a systematic and complete history and physical examination on a client.
- Communicate significant examination findings to other professionals and client/family.
- Appropriately assess and record subjective and objective findings.
- Maintain effective relationships and interact appropriately with other professionals and clients/families, demonstrating skills of leadership collaborations and decisiveness.
- Accurately analyze alterations in functional patterns.
- Demonstrate advanced use of the nursing process: assess, develop, implement, educate and counsel clients, prescribe appropriate therapy, demonstrate self-care skills and evaluate appropriate plans of action for diagnosed problems.
- Maintain flexibility and emotional stability in response to novel, unique situations and stress.
- Anticipate potential common, acute self-limiting, and selected chronic problems.
- Develop insight into own emotional functioning to evaluate the ability to provide therapeutic intervention for a client.
If a student cannot fulfill these Technical and Performance Standards, with or without accommodations, at any time in the program, the student will be ineligible for admission or continued progression in the DNP Program. In addition to assuring that students can meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical criteria for the DNP Program, it is of utmost importance that students have the ability to provide for the safety and welfare of their patients and others. Reasonable accommodations will be provided, when appropriate, to help student meet these Technical and Professional Standards. Determination of eligibility and recommendations of accommodations must be made by Disability Services at https://www.uthsc.edu/tlc/disability-services.php
Nurse Midwifery FAQs
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) provide advanced care to women/individuals and their partners throughout the lifespan with a specialized emphasis on pregnancy, birth, reproductive and gynecologic health care. The program is designed and continually revised to address the ACNM Core Competencies of Basic Midwifery Practice and skills required for today’s versatile nurse-midwife as medical knowledge expands, healthcare systems evolve, and technology advances in response to health care needs and evidence-based research. CNMs possess the skills necessary to make differential diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and manage normal physiologic birth.
Most CNMs work in primary care sites such as a family or women’s health practice and attend hospital births. CNMs may also work in birth centers or home birth practices. Individual state legislation determines the scope of practice; rules and regulations vary. Scope of practice is based on education and experience. The best place to explore individual scope of practice issues is the State Board of Nursing, not the physician or office manager in a practice. Contact information for individual state boards of nursing is at https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm..
Compensation rates vary regionally. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates nurse practitioners generally start around $72,000 with a maximum salary estimated near $150,000. The median salary is around $100,000.
.
The UTHSC DNP-NMW concentration is fortunate to be in close proximity to numerous primary care clinics in the Memphis and Mid-South region. Additionally, the CON partners with Regional One Health, which has a vibrant CNM practice, and with CHOICES birth center. Along with a dynamic and challenging didactic program, students are required to complete a minimum of 1200 hours in direct, supervised family-centered care that includes managing births in both the hospital and birth center settings.
The length of the program varies depending on whether the applicant is applying as a BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP student. Additionally, the length of the program may vary based on completion of previous graduate courses at another university and/or having previously completed an APRN program. Please see the links to the various program plans of study.
Full-time and part-time plans of study are available. Students should consult with the concentration coordinator about how to proceed with his/her respective program needs.
The UTHSC DNP-NMW full-time program is a rigorous program. The program requires a significant commitment for successful completion of didactic and clinical course experiences. For this reason, students are strongly discouraged to maintain full-time employment while enrolled in the program. Each student has his/her own individual responsibilities. If employment is essential, students are encouraged to explore flexible part-time employment and utilize saved vacation or other leave that can afford more time to commit to the program.
Tuition costs are determined by in-state or out-of-state status and may change during the program. Tuition and fee information is located on the UTHSC Bursar's Fees webpage. Additionally, the Academic Common Market may be available for some out-of-state students. Information on this program is available through the Office of Financial Aid. Many employers also offer tuition reimbursement for full-time and part-time employees. Students should also consider the costs incurred for travel and hotel accommodations during the on-campus experiences. Students are encouraged to explore the many private scholarship funds available for graduate study in their communities as well as regional, state, and national financial aid. An internet search of graduate nursing scholarships can unmask various opportunities. Many diverse groups offer scholarship programs; some states and organizations have loan repayment programs for nursing education. There are also federal government grants for nursing students.
Book purchases will vary by semester. Many books specific to the DNP-NMW program will be used in consecutive semesters. Textbooks are supplemented with electronic media, much of which is available in the library for the students at no cost. Students need adequate computer hardware and internet access. Basic health assessment equipment including a high-quality stethoscope are required. Students generally do not have clinical their first semester and are encouraged to wait to purchase this equipment closer to their first clinical course. Requirements change as the quality of equipment continually advances. Lab coats are mandatory for clinical experiences, but the specifications periodically change.
The American College of Nurse-Midwives' local affiliate provides strong student support as well as an opportunity for students to volunteer on behalf of the profession. Our students benefit from all of these wonderful opportunities in Tennessee.
Find and visit your local NP group meetings. The Greater Memphis Area APN group web page is https://gmaapn.enpnetwork.com.
Obtain a diagnostic evaluation of your learning style. Numerous online engines offer this service at no cost. Simply enter "learning style assessment" into a search engine to locate these services. Students admitted to the DNP Program have their learning style assessed prior to beginning classes. We will also offer an intensive review of health assessment skills prior to class beginning.
Evaluate your family, community and work commitments and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. The program requires a full commitment. All students will have to make adjustments in their personal and professional lives.