NSMW 7620 Antepartum Care    3 Credits

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of nurse-midwifery, with an emphasis on antepartum care. Care of the pregnant person, fetus, and childbearing family during the prenatal period are explored holistically from each of the following perspectives: biological, physiological, developmental, and cultural. The educational and nutritional needs of the pregnant person are examined. Students learn how to perform comprehensive assessments on a pregnant person at all gestational ages, as well as the timing and indication of screening tests during pregnancy. An emphasis is placed on prevention and screening based on evidence-based research. Normal fetal growth and fetal testing options are covered. Research-based advanced nursing interventions, including physiological, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions to promote, to maintain, and to restore the optimal health of pregnant persons are explored. Clinical practice guidelines are highlighted and attention given to cultural, socioeconomic and family variations in the provision of care in the antepartum setting.

NSMW 7622 Primary Care and Gynecologic, Reproductive, and Sexual Health for Nurse Midwifery I    3 Credits

Corequisites: NURS 7601, NURS 7608, NURS 7697.

Prerequisites: NURS 7604, NURS 7610, NURS 7640, NSMW 7620, NSMW 7951.

This course focuses on the provision of reproductive-based health care to non-pregnant people across the lifespan and on the provision of primary care to both non-pregnant and pregnant people. This course examines current primary care and gynecological health care practices and theories from the following disciplines: biological, genetic, psychological, developmental, sociocultural and cultural. Students will develop critical thinking, clinical care skills, and management strategies for a holistic approach to primary care and gynecologic care. Family planning and contraceptive options will be reviewed. Emphasis is on comprehensive assessments and prevention and screening recommendations from evidence-based research. Concepts related to health promotion are provided. In addition to primary care and gynecologic assessments, preconception and postpartum assessments (including breastfeeding) will be explored. The primary care management of selected common health conditions affecting people will be covered. Developmental considerations, vulnerable populations, and cultural needs as they relate to health promotion will be discussed. Additionally, pharmacology specific to gynecologic and primary care issues will be included. Previously NSMW 0622.

NSMW 7623 Primary Care and Gynecologic, Reproductive, and Sexual Health for Nurse Midwifery II    3 Credits

This course is a continuation of NSMW 7622 and focuses on the provision of reproductive-based health care to non-pregnant people across the lifespan and on the provision of primary care to both the non-pregnant and pregnant person. This course further examines current primary care and gynecological person’s health care practices and theories from the following disciplines: biological, genetic, psychological, developmental, sociocultural and cultural. Students in this course will develop critical thinking, clinical care skills, and management strategies for a holistic approach to primary care and gynecologic care. Emphasis is on comprehensive assessments and prevention and screening recommendations from evidence-based research. Having been introduced to the primary care and gynecologic health promotion and maintenance of people in NSMW 7622, this course will explore beyond these concepts, and further examine the abnormal conditions in the primary care and gynecologic setting. Pharmacology specific to primary care, gynecologic, reproductive, and sexual health and abnormal conditions will be covered in depth. Attention will be given to the evaluation and management of common episodic and chronic primary care and gynecologic conditions of people in the healthcare settings. Developmental considerations, vulnerable populations, and cultural needs, as they relate to health promotion will be discussed in depth.

NSMW 7625 Intrapartum Care    3 Credits

This course focuses on normal labor and birth and introduces students to intrapartum theory, skills, and management. Synthesis and application of theory and research to effectively implement midwifery care in the intrapartum setting. Focus is on comprehensive team participation and management of intrapartum and immediate postpartum persons with normal deliveries. Evaluation and immediate care of the newborn is included. Development and evaluation of evidence-based care approaches is incorporated throughout the course. An emphasis is placed on vulnerable populations to critically evaluate the impact of contextual factors on healthcare services in the intrapartum setting. The course highlights the normalcy of birth for the low risk pregnant persons.

NSMW 7627 Advanced Midwifery Management: At-Risk Childbirth    3 Credits

Building on NSMW 7625 this course will provide synthesis and application of theory and research to effectively implement advanced midwifery care in the intrapartum setting. In this course, potential complications arising during normal birth are explored. Further, common medical, surgical, and obstetric complications are explored in depth. Case studies, case presentations, and simulations are utilized as the primary course format for the students to evaluate patients and manage common obstetric complications. Skills to prevent and manage common obstetric complications and life-threatening problems of pregnant persons will be emphasized. Skills for immediate assessment, supportive management of the newborn, including physiological, psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions will be incorporated. Students will have the opportunity to become certified in neonatal resuscitation. Interprofessional simulations will be coordinated throughout the course to simulate actual patient scenarios with a focus on teamwork and communication.

NSMW 7951 Antepartum Clinical    2 Credits

As the first practicum in the nurse-midwifery specialty, this clinical focuses on providing evidence-based care and utilizing health promotion when caring for the pregnant persons. Emphasis is placed on the physical exam of a pregnant person, assessment of fetal well-being, and providing prenatal education. Students use critical thinking and clinical judgment as they relate the provision of care to pregnant persons. Evidence-based practice guidelines are followed to provide routine prenatal care as well as to recognize abnormal findings. The assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management and evaluation of risk factors and health problems will be addressed. Attention is given to cultural, socioeconomic and family variations in the provision of care in the antepartum setting.

NSMW 7952 Primary Care and Gynecologic, Reproductive, and Sexual Health for Nurse Midwifery Clinical    3 Credits

Focus on evidence-based practice approaches to primary care and gynecologic care, specifically, ambulatory management of common, acute, and chronic health conditions of persons throughout the lifespan, including preconceptual, interconceptual and postpartum care. Prevention and screening using patient databases and evidence-based research will be emphasized. Further emphasis will be on physiological, psychosocial, and pharmacological interventions. Age related, cultural, family, and individual patient variations and vulnerabilities will be incorporated into the review of clinical practice guidelines.

NSMW 7953 Intrapartum Clinical    2 Credits

Intrapartum clinical serves as the student midwife’s first experience managing intrapartum clients in the hospital or birth center setting and as the foundational course for intrapartum management of the low risk pregnant person. Skills are first taught in didactic and simulation settings, ensuring each student midwife is checked off on these skills prior to beginning clinical. This clinical focuses on normal labor and birth and introduces students to intrapartum skills and management. Application of theory and research from NSMW 7625 will be used to effectively implement midwifery care in the intrapartum setting. Focus is on comprehensive team participation and management of intrapartum and immediate postpartum persons with normal deliveries. Evaluation and immediate care of the newborn is included. An emphasis is placed on vulnerable populations to critically evaluate the impact of contextual factors on healthcare services in the intrapartum setting. This clinical highlights the normalcy of birth for low risk pregnant persons.

NSMW 7954 Advanced Midwifery Clinical    2 Credits

Building on the prior clinical course NSMW 7953, this course will provide application of theory and research to effectively implement advanced midwifery care in the intrapartum setting. In this course, potential complications arising during normal birth are explored and care will be provided to pregnant persons with these conditions. Further, common medical, surgical, and obstetric complications are explored in depth. Students evaluate patients and manage common obstetric complications. Skills to prevent and manage common obstetric complications and life threatening problems of the pregnant person will be emphasized. Skills for immediate assessment, supportive management of the newborn, including physiological, psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions will be incorporated. Students will have the opportunity to become certified in neonatal resuscitation. Interprofessional simulations will be coordinated throughout the course and clinical seminars to simulate actual patient scenarios with a focus on teamwork and communication.

NSMW 7955 Integration to Nurse-Midwifery Practice    6 Credits

As the final midwifery course, transition to midwifery practice fosters the incorporation of all previous classroom and clinical experiences in order to prepare the nurse midwife for practice upon graduation. This course enables students to provide full-scope midwifery care while still having the advantages of being a student. This course is a final synthesis of primary care, gynecology, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care, and therefore builds on all previous knowledge and skills from coursework and clinical. Students utilize both theory and evidence-based research to drive care and treatment decisions in the clinical setting. They will become familiar with the responsibility inherent to their emerging role as a nurse-midwife. In the healthcare setting, students will collaborate with members of the healthcare team and display evidence-based clinical practice. Within the healthcare team, midwifery clinical assessment and management skills across the reproductive lifespan into older age will be utilized. Students will safely conduct and deliver evidenced based primary care visits emphasizing disease prevention. They will manage gynecologic, family planning, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum healthcare visits creating individual treatment plans and attend births in the intrapartum setting. They will manage the care of the newborn from birth through 28 days of life. Students will each have a variety of primary care and inpatient care settings. Evaluation and critique of care approaches of persons throughout the lifespan and of newborns is highlighted throughout clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on thorough examination of the impact of psychosocial and environmental factors on healthcare services as they relate to one’s wellbeing.