At Bethel, students receive a world-class nurse-midwifery education taught from a faith-based worldview. They develop a foundation of comprehensive skill, sound ethics, and compassionate practices to offer clients the kind of care that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Students lean on knowledge, experience, and values to offer holistic care to individuals with diverse needs and backgrounds to provide sexual and reproductive healthcare that supports health throughout the lifespan. As the healthcare environment changes, nurse-midwifery is projected to remain an important field that will only increase in demand. Bethel is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive midwifery workforce.

Masters in Nursing Program Outcomes

• Provide leadership in a variety of systems to promote high quality and safe care for individuals and communities.
• Integrate nursing knowledge, theoretical foundations, and evidence to inform practice changes that improve health.
• Improve practice through knowledge and use of current and emerging information technologies.
• Integrate ethical perspectives and Christian principles in advanced nursing practice.
• Advocate for improved health of populations through analysis of policy and systems that address health disparities and determinants.
• Promote culturally competent systems that support the global context of healthcare, the reduction of healthcare disparities, and a commitment to anti-racism in practice.
• Collaborate with the interprofessional healthcare team to improve patient and population health outcomes.

Additional Program Outcomes: Nurse-Midwifery

• Function as a nurse-midwife through integration of theory, research, ethical and Christian perspectives, global realities, policy-making issues, and information technologies.
• Influence clinical practice through theory application and use of evidence in order to improve care for women and their families.
• Manage holistically the healthcare needs of women across the lifespan and healthy newborns within the healthcare system.

Program Values

• We value that every person has a right to be an active participant in their healthcare and be provided with accurate information to self-determine the best choices for themselves and their families.
• We value a model of healthcare that includes the therapeutic use of human presence and communication, a full partnership that honors patients and their individual experiences and knowledge, and one that is based on the best evidence available.
• We value diversity in the midwifery profession as being a catalyst for culturally congruent care for all families.
• We value the normalcy of physiologic life cycle events and believe that midwifery care balances watchful waiting and non-intervention with appropriate intervention, consultation, collaboration, and referral with other members of the healthcare team in order to provide optimal care.
• We value formal education, lifelong learning, professional development, and research, to guide not only midwifery practice, but the development of the profession of midwifery and the education of midwives.

Progression and Graduation

To progress in the program and graduate, the student must meet Bethel University requirements for academic progress. In addition to graduation requirements common to all master’s degree programs, nurse-midwifery students must earn a grade of B- or better in each course and achieve an exam average of 75% in all courses containing midterm and final exams. This indicates satisfactory achievement of objectives and completion of course requirements. 

Program Design

• All courses (except intensives) are delivered asynchronously online using best practices in internet technology, instructional design, and adult learning.
• The program hosts three, three-day intensives. Two of these intensives are held in-person on the Bethel University campus, and one is held synchronously online.
• Three clinical practicums (750+ hours) are required during the program.
• Students write a methodological literature review for the program capstone.
• A supportive learning community is achieved through the cohort model - a group of students progressing through a degree program together.
• The curriculum prepares students to take a national exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

Program Performance Standards

Nursing is a practice discipline. All nursing students must demonstrate a wide variety of cognitive, interpersonal, and motor skills. A list of core program performance standards is available from the nursing department.  The university will provide reasonable accommodations to eligible students who can demonstrate need based on qualifying disability in accordance with the applicable law. Students seeking reasonable accommodations must request them in a timely manner in order to avoid scheduling delays.  A minimum of 30 days advance notice prior to the start of the academic term is required because of the complex nature of clinical and intensive courses. Consultation related to reasonable accommodations is available through the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services.

Nursing Appeals Process

Students have the right to appeal a final grade, clinical evaluation, or dismissal from the program.  If resolution cannot be resolved with the faculty member most immediately involved, the student may appeal to the Nursing Admissions and Progression committee, as described in the program’s Nursing Student Handbook. Students dismissed from the nursing program are administratively withdrawn from nursing courses they are registered for in the next term.

Admissions decisions are final and may not be appealed.  Applicants may request a review of an admission decision by the Associate Dean of Nursing and Public and Community Health.

Admission Requirements

The M.S. degree program in Nurse-Midwifery will consider applicants who:

• Meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
• Submit an official transcript (U.S. schools) or NACES, AICE, or CGFNS evaluation (international schools) showing an earned baccalaureate degree and official transcripts or NACES, AICE, or CGFNS evaluations from all graduate schools attended. Applicants must also submit an official transcript or NACES, AICE, or CGFNS evaluation from any school that shows completion of any nursing program coursework or required program prerequisites.
• Have earned a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing from an institutionally accredited (or internationally recognized as equivalent) institution. 
• Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Have successfully completed a college level prerequisite course in statistics at a grade of C or higher. Inferential statistics content is recommended. The course must have earned at least two semester credits from an institutionally accredited (or internationally recognized as equivalent) institution and may have been taken at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international applicants and all applicants whose primary language is not English. A TOEFL minimum score of 84 (internet-based) or 26 (speaking test) is required. 
• Submit one professional and one supervisor Admission Reference.
• Submit a written Statement of Purpose.
• Provide proof of health insurance. 
• Submit a copy of current registered nurse license. Must be licensed in the state in which practicum experiences will occur.
• Submit a resume that includes prior education and work experience.  One year of clinical experience is required; experience in labor and delivery nursing or women's health suggested.
• Interview with program faculty.

Post-Admission Enrollment Requirements

Accepted students will receive an official acceptance letter. Once admitted into the Nurse Midwifery program, students must confirm their intention to enroll by providing a nonrefundable $250 deposit. The $250 is applied to the first term’s fee.

After admission into the program students are also required to submit:

• Completed Nursing Student Immunization Record.
• Documentation of a 2-step Mantoux and a current negative Mantoux/chest X-ray.
• Copy of current CPR certification.

Degree Requirements

M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery

The required program for the M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery comprises a 57 semester credit sequence of courses. 

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Course must be taken for credit at Bethel.