Important Notice to Applicants
The Nurse-Midwifery specialty is being redesigned to transition into the school's new BSN Entry to DNP pathway and intends to commence admissions in the near future. The school is currently working with the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) to complete the steps required to seek approval for these programmatic changes. Once ACME approval has been received, the school will open applications for nurse-midwifery admissions.
To receive an announcement when the application cycle opens, please complete our interest form.
This redesign is part of UCSF School of Nursing's decision to transition all of its Master of Science (MS) program specialties, including the Nurse-Midwifery specialty, to the BSN Entry to DNP pathway. This transition is an effort that has been in development since 2020 and is in response to educational, economic and professional priorities for the school in pursuit of excellence as part of our PRIDE values.
The transition from the MS degree to the DNP degree is a core part of the School of Nursing's vision to prepare nurses at the highest educational level and empower them to be the strongest health care leaders and boldest patient advocates possible. The health challenges that California and the nation face — especially around women's reproductive health, and maternal health and mortality in diverse communities — are complex and ever evolving. Our goal is to not only prepare diverse nurses with the expertise in their chosen specialty but to arm them with a deep understanding of health policy and the leadership to meet challenges head-on, and advance care for our diverse communities.
In addition, this transition aligns with the academic standard for nursing education. In 2004, the member schools affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which includes UCSF School of Nursing, voted to endorse a position statement calling for a national shift to doctorate-level nursing education. As with many nursing schools across the country, the UCSF School of Nursing is expanding its doctoral programming to meet this academic standard. The school's BSN Entry to DNP pathway launched in June 2024.
Overview
Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, the United States has higher rates of maternal and infant mortality compared to many countries that use midwifery as their primary model of care. Studies have indicated that midwife-attended births have lower cesarean birth rates, higher breastfeeding rates and lower NICU admission rates.
Nurse-midwives provide primary care to childbearing individuals in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings including hospitals, homes and birth centers. They provide care that is informed by a core beliefs in patient autonomy and the importance of supporting physiologic processes, including birth.
Graduates of our nurse-midwifery specialty are also eligible to sit the national board examination to be certified as a women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP). [Note: Beginning Fall 2023, the WHNP dual specialty will no longer be offered. The specialty will be nurse-midwifery only.] A WHNP is a registered nurse who has completed advanced education with a focus on the primary health care needs of women across the life cycle, with emphasis on conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their lives. The specialty is dedicated to increasing service to vulnerable and underserved individuals and families. We adhere to the philosophy of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), but our unique specialty values are captured by the specialty's own mission, philosophy, purpose and objectives, which we encourage all applicants to review prior to applying.
In addition, please see the following details about the nurse-midwifery specialty:
- Clinical rotations are throughout the greater Bay Area and may not be accessible by public transportation; access to a car is necessary.
- The final quarter of this program is a full-scope, 10-week clinical rotation. Many members of the class will be assigned to an integration site away from the Bay Area. This involves separation from family and community members, as well as extra expense. The extra expense can be communicated with Student Financial Aid in determination of your student budget that quarter.
- Many of our clinical care sites have high numbers of monolingual Spanish-speaking patients. Spanish-language skills will make a difference in patient care and your learning experience; we strongly encourage strong Spanish-language ability.
- Our intrapartum clinical rotations include mandatory nights and weekends (e.g. L&D), and are mostly in the hospital setting.
- It is part of the role of nurse-midwives to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care. Our program includes required competencies in abortion and contraception, and there may or may not be optional rotations in abortion care.
Certifications and Licenses
Students who complete this specialty are eligible for the following certifications:
Nurse-Midwife
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Nurse-Midwife certificate
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Nurse-Midwife Furnishing certificate
- National Board certification by American Midwifery Certification Board as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (for cohorts entering no later than fall 2022)*
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Nurse Practitioner certificate
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Nurse Practitioner Furnishing certificate
- National Board certification by the National Certification as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC)
*Note: Beginning fall 2023, the WHNP dual specialty will no longer be offered. The specialty will be nurse-midwifery only.
Curriculum
Current students can visit the Master of Science program's Collaborative Learning Environment site to access the curriculum (MyAccess credentials required).
For individuals applying for admission for fall 2024, the sample curriculum for the BSN Entry to DNP — Advanced Nursing Focus pathway can be viewed on our Curriculum webpage.
Accreditation
The Nurse-Midwifery specialty at UCSF is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), 2000 Duke St., Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; For information about accreditation, please contact ACME directly by calling 703-835-4565 or by email at [email protected], www.theacme.org.
Faculty
Cynthia Belew, MS, RN, CNM, professor - Interim Master's Specialty Coordinator
To Be Determined — BSN Entry to DNP Specialty Coordinator
Ifeyinwa Asiodu, PhD, RN, associate professor
Amber Bell, MS, RN, CNM, assistant professor
Vanessa Evers, NP, CNM, assistant professor
Deena Mallareddy, MS, RN, CNM, professor
Contact Us
- Current students: Please contact Interim Master's Specialty Coordinator: Cynthia Belew ([email protected])
- Applicants: To receive an announcement when the application cycle opens, please complete our interest form.