Program Overview

Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery

Make a difference with a career in nurse-midwifery

Midwifery is one of the most rewarding advanced practice nursing occupations, providing you with the framework to promote physiologic birth and affirm the power and strength of individuals while addressing their general health care. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse-Midwifery (NMW) program provides the student with the necessary skills and knowledge to assume the role of a Certified Nurse Midwife in a variety of clinical settings. Didactic and course content focuses on role development and the assessment and management of an individual’s health (antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal periods, as well as primary care) throughout the lifespan.

Program Overview

• Program Delivery: The program is delivered online.
• Program Length: The program can be completed full-time in two years (including summers).
• Graduate Eligibility: Graduates of this degree will be eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

A Message From Our Director, Penny Marzalik, Ph.D.

The Nurse Midwifery Program at Shenandoah University offers a variety of options to receive training as a midwife. Learn more about the university’s midwifery initiative and graduate studies in nurse-midwifery from three current students. Nurse-midwives are advanced practice nurses who provide family-centered primary health care to women throughout their reproductive lives, including counseling and care during pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods.

Learn More About This Program & Its Accreditations

• Program Accreditation: The Nurse-Midwifery Program at Shenandoah University is fully accredited by the ACNM Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), 2000 Duke Street, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22314; Tel: , , theacme.org.
• Program Description: The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Nurse-Midwifery program provides the student with the necessary skills and knowledge to assume the role of a Certified Nurse-Midwife in a variety of clinical settings. Didactic and course content focuses on role development and the assessment and management of women’s health (antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal periods, as well as primary women’s health) throughout the lifespan.

Career Possibilities

Our program prepares you to assume the role of a certified nurse-midwife in a variety of clinical settings. Didactic and clinical course content focuses on role development and the assessment and management of an individual’s health (antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal periods, as well as primary care) throughout the lifespan. Upon earning your degree and successful board certification, you may work in a variety of settings.

Classes

• Degree Requirement: 49 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
• Core Curriculum Plan of Study:
  • N 532: Advanced Practice Roles, Ethics & Policy (3 credits)
  • N 560: Advanced Concepts in Physiology & Pathophysiology (3 credits)
  • 3 Credit Graduate Elective (3 credits)
  • N 550: Advanced Pharmacology & Therapeutics (3 credits)
  • N/NLAB 580: Advanced Health Promotion & Assessment Across Lifespan (4 credits)
  • N 522: Research & Evidence Based Practice (4 credits)
  • N 507: Data Interpretation & Informatics (3 credits)
• Nurse-Midwifery Specialty Courses:
  • NM 610: Primary Care of Women (2 credits)
  • NM 620: Antepartum Care (2 credits)
  • NM 612: Women’s Health (2 credits)
  • NMLB 624: Midwifery Practicum I (3 credits, 180 clinical hours)
  • NM 640: Comprehensive Perinatal Care (3 credits)
  • NM 641: Perinatal Complications (2 credits)
  • NMLB 630: Midwifery Practicum II (4 credits, 240 clinical hours)
  • NM 660: Advanced Nurse-Midwifery Role Development (2 credits)
  • NM 652: Evidence Based Practice Project (1 credit)
  • NMLB 651: Integrated Midwifery internship (5 credits, 300 clinical hours)

Meet the Faculty

Meet Penny R. Marzalik, Associate Professor and Nurse-Midwifery Program Director

Related Programs

• Masters Of Science In Nurse-Midwifery
• Post Graduate Certificate In Midwifery

Application Information

• Application Prerequisites:
  • A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a CCNE or an ACEN accredited institution. Recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Applicants must have completed or will complete the following prerequisite course requirements prior to enrolling at Shenandoah:
    • Undergraduate Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology courses. Recommended grade of “B” or better.
    • Undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of “C” or better.
    • Undergraduate Chemistry course with a grade of “C” or better.
• Admissions Requirements:
  • Graduate application along with $30 application fee
  • Unofficial transcripts for initial admission from all institutions of higher education previously attended
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Current resume/C.V.
  • Essay (250-500 words) answering the following question: Why are you choosing to pursue the Nurse-Midwifery role?
  • Documentation of one full year of direct patient care prior to specialty courses
  • Unencumbered RN license – multi-state or individual state (must obtain licensure in the state(s) in which you will do clinical rotations.
  • Interview with graduate nursing faculty will be required
  • Language Proficiency Requirement must be met. Submission of TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET) may be required. See our policy for full details.

Graduate Program Assured Admission

The Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing at Shenandoah University offers assured graduate program admission to its BSN or MSN alumni who are interested in earning an MSN, post-master’s specialty certificate, and/or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.