Midwifery

Utilizing a systems approach and a background in basic physical assessment, advanced physical assessment skills are studied. The identification and interpretation of abnormalities in the physical exam are emphasized in depth. The approach to the development of the differential diagnosis is introduced. The goal of this course is to provide the critical thinking necessary for the beginning advanced practice nursing student to analyze history and physical exam data.

The goals of this course are to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the actions of drugs in order to enable them to use therapeutic agents in a rational and responsible manner in patients. Initially, basic principles of pharmacology will be reviewed (from N5375 course), including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs by the body. Drug-receptor interactions will also be presented and illustrated with appropriate examples. The focus of these lectures will be case-based whenever possible to demonstrate the therapeutic application of these pharmacologic principles and how this translates into efficacy and potential toxicity.

Part one of two. In this course we will examine the normal physiological function of organ systems, the mechanisms for the maintenance of health, and the pathophysiological alterations in body function that lead to disease. Each class will focus on a specific physiologic process or organ system. We will pay particular focus to diseases that commonly occur across the lifespan, examining common etiologies, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and common treatments of each.

Part two of two. In this course we will examine the normal physiological function of organ systems, the mechanisms for the maintenance of health, and the pathophysiological alterations in body function that lead to disease. Each class will focus on a specific physiologic process or organ system. We will pay particular focus to diseases that commonly occur across the lifespan, examining common etiologies, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and common treatments of each.

This course provides the graduate nurse-midwifery student with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the neonate, breastfeeding, and the postpartum period with an emphasis on the first six weeks. Normal physiology and family centered management skills are emphasized. Students are encouraged to provide care that recognizes and respects the cultural dynamics of the family. Pathophysiology is also covered to familiarize the nurse-midwife with various interventions when deviations from the normal are encountered.

This course provides the graduate midwifery student with theoretical knowledge of complex conditions that may arise during the antepartum period. Maintaining a person-centered approach to care is emphasized within the context of health equity.

This diagnosis and management course identifies complex sexual and reproductive health issues within the scope of nurse midwifery practice. Emphasis will be on the nurse midwifery role in the management of complex cases which includes collaborative care and referrals. Concurrent supervised clinical experiences enhance and ground the didactic experience. Social and reproductive justice issues and health outcome measures with respect to disparities will be integrated throughout.

Nurse-Midwifery services provide intensive clinical experience in all areas of nurse-midwifery practice. Direct student teaching is provided by nurse-midwifery preceptors affiliated with the program.

This course emphasizes critical analysis of disparities in women’s health both historically and in the current health care system. Institutional racism and misogyny will be examined as a major contributor to health disparities. Health outcomes across the lifespan for women in the United States will be compared and contrasted with outcomes in low and high resource countries. The social and political context will include disparities identified based on the social determinants of health which include age, race, poverty, mental and physical capacity, ethnicity, language, country of national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation. Efforts to close the gap in disparities will be identified and analyzed.

This course will introduce the student to the epistemology and scholarship of practice and to lifelong learning. Using the DNP Competencies in Comprehensive Care as the framework, students will analyze clinical decision-making and utilization of evidence for best clinical practices in a variety of reproductive health settings. Individual plans for guided study will be mapped for each student. Clinical review and discussion of interesting, complex cases from the practice environment will facilitate the students’ development of the knowledge base and skills essential to the role of the nurse midwife.

This course is a continuation of Seminar I. Using the DNP Competencies in Comprehensive Care as the framework, students will analyze clinical decision-making and utilization of evidence for best clinical practices in the inpatient setting. Clinical appraisal and critique of challenging cases from the practice environment will facilitate the students’ application of the knowledge base and skills essential to the role of the nurse midwife.

The DNP residency and portfolio is designed to demonstrate that the DNP graduate possesses the advanced knowledge of clinical management to provide high quality care. The components of the residency are scholarly activities across settings combined with documented outcomes achieved in multiple sites of care. The DNP resident, in varied settings, assumes an expanded scope of practice for a panel of patients with the principles of continuity based care as paramount. Gaps in clinical experience opportunities are identified at regularly scheduled meetings with the advisor and arrangements are made to enhance the practicum as indicated.

This course provides the graduate midwifery student with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for the antepartum period emphasizing essential physiology and management within the context of social and reproductive justice.

This course addresses sexual and reproductive health issues and the diagnosis and management of essential health conditions.  Measured outcome disparities and social justice issues will be presented as they relate to sexual and reproductive health.

This core course examines contextual contributors to health status and the current social, legal, and political determinants of healthcare systems, emphasizing the U.S. system. Issues are explored to understand their impact on current and future delivery of health care, in particular on advanced practice nursing. The class focuses on how to bring the professional values of nursing to bear in policy debate and how nurses partner in the policy process to improve health outcomes of populations and quality of the healthcare delivery system.

The purpose of this course is to critically analyze healthcare policy in the US. Included is a focus on the advanced practice nurse role in shaping and influencing policy through advocacy and leadership to improve patient outcomes.

This course is designed to provide the student with a systematic approach to the delivery of health promotion and disease prevention in primary health care to individuals, families, communities, and aggregate populations.

This course is intended to provide a strong foundation in the concepts of genetics and clinical applicability of genomic concepts commonly seen in advance practice nurses’ clinical practice. Both classical Mendelian and molecular genetics will be examined, in order to provide a knowledge base that will enable the advanced practice nurse to integrate genetic and genomic knowledge into clinical practice. Using a case discussion approach, clinical issues of genetics testing, genetic exceptionalism, individualized risk assessments and predictions are explored throughout their life span.

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills regarding the uses of information technology to support evidence-based practice. The course will provide an overview of informatics topics of most relevance to evidence-based practice including: computer systems and system development; standardized clinical terminology; informatics standards; electronic health records; retrieval and critical analysis of digital data, information, and knowledge; clinical decision making; decision support; decision analysis; shared decision making; and computer aided instruction.

Aimed at increasing student awareness of the prevalence, context, dynamics, and potential outcomes of interpersonal violence (IPV), the goal of this course is to provide advanced practice nurses with the information needed for prevention, identification, assessment appropriate intervention, and resource referral for clients and families who are at risk for, have a history with, or are currently experiencing IPV. Course content will explore the dynamics, causes and consequences of IPV, specifically: domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual assault.

Clinical practice includes nurse-midwifery management of the care of the normal intrapartum woman/ newborn/ family and collaboration and/or referral for complex management. Experience on the postpartum ward and in newborn care is obtained in this clinical rotation when intrapartum patients are not available.

Didactic presents an understanding of the process of labor, birthing, and immediate postpartum and how this impacts on the mother and baby from a midwifery perspective. Specific focus centers on the midwifery management process, particularly for the normal, with differential diagnosis to determine when intervention/consultation is necessary. Birthing management will be viewed in a variety of settings and cultures. Practical skills for assessment and management will be taught. The course will provide mastery of the core competencies required by ACNM.

This course is designed for graduate nurses to provide them with the skills to understand and utilize research evidence in decisions about clinical practice. The course is designed to help graduate nurses articulate relevant practice-based questions, search the literature to identify relevant evidence, evaluate the quality of research on which the evidence is based, and discuss the application of the evidence in clinical practice to improve quality of care.

This course provides the first phase of nurse midwifery students with theoretical and practical knowledge in preparation for provision of support to women in labor. The course includes a year-long practicum during which the student provides supervised labor support.This course provides the first phase of nurse midwifery students with theoretical and practical knowledge in preparation for provision of support to women in labor. The course includes a year-long practicum during which the student provides supervised labor support.

Previously known as Doula Training Program.

The fundamental purpose of this course is to facilitate an understanding of the physiological mechanisms relevant to the maternal experience, fetal life, and the neonatal period. This course will focus primarily on the physiology of normal maternal/fetal/newborn issues and cover some common complications and pathology.

Clinical skills preparation is essential before a student enters clinical practicum. A variety of skills relevant to antepartum, well woman gynecology, and intrapartum care are taught and then practiced in simulation settings and peer practice.

Clinical skills preparation is essential before a student enters clinical practicum. A variety of skills relevant to intrapartum, newborn, and postpartum care are taught and then practiced in simulation settings and peer practice.

This module covers the broad scope of prenatal care and includes: the history and physical examination techniques aimed at understanding the normal parameters of pregnancy, and recognizing any deviations from normal in the pregnant woman/family or the fetus; and the physiological, social, emotional, and educational components of antepartum care. Clinical practice includes nurse-midwifery management of the care of the normal antepartum woman/family, screening for high-risk pregnancies, and co-management or referral of high-risk pregnancies.

Pelvic Assessment of the Adult Woman develops the required technical knowledge base and clinical skills for adequate gynecologic assessment of women from adolescence, through the perimenopause and into the postmenopausal years. This comprehensive knowledge base regarding the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic and reproductive organs, including normal variations, prepares the student for the acquisition of practical skills for assessment and intervention. Respect for women and cultural sensitivity for this vulnerable exam will be emphasized.

This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as a member and lead interdisciplinary groups in organizational assessment to identify systems issues and facilitate organization-wide changes in practice delivery utilizing quality improvement strategies. Course content focusses on understanding systems concepts and thinking to achieve results in complex health care delivery systems. Frameworks, approaches, and tools that foster critical thinking are examined as mechanisms to formulate vital questions, gather and assess relevant information, develop well-reasoned conclusions, test conclusions against relevant standards, compare conclusions with alternative systems of thought, and communicate effectively throughout the process.

This diagnosis and management course will focus on each physiologic system and include unique characteristics relevant to women’s health throughout the lifespan adolescence to old age. Complex health concerns will be included in the context of consultation, collaborative management and/or referral to specialists. The course will reinforce appropriate standards and scope of midwifery practice within a critical analysis of social and political influences on women’s health care including institutional racism. Identify strategies to close gaps in evidence in order to improve diagnosis and management of women’s health systems.

This course addresses the application of epidemiology and environmental approaches to inform the clinical practice of health care of individuals. An understanding of health sciences based on groups of people, including environmental health, occupational health, and some aspects of genetics, can orient the practitioner with an individual patient. These external influences are modified through social, cultural, and behavioral factors. Addressing these factors should help to anticipate and improve patient outcomes.

The Professional Issues in Nurse-Midwifery course is designed to concentrate on the transition from student to beginning nurse-midwife practitioner. It examines the history of the profession and the role of its leadership organizations including the ACNM. Students will submit articles for publication to the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. The course curriculum also examines current critical issues that impact on the profession, both national and international, and addresses organizational and legislative means of effecting change.

This course is the first of two designed to introduce students to scholarly writing and dissemination for clinicians. The course provides students with practical information, exercises, and resources for successful clinical manuscript preparation and clinical conference poster and oral presentation. The course introduces students to fundamental skills for scholarly writing including familiarity with professional journals and conferences, utilization of electronic resources for literature searches and citation management, writing process and organizational skills, identification of predatory journal and conference enterprises, and academic integrity and the continuum of plagiarism. The course culminates in an annotated bibliography on a topic of the student’s choosing that allows for the synthesis and application of the skills and resources developed over the course. In conjunction with part two of the course, students are prepared for a lifelong approach to integrating scholarship into clinical practice.

Continuation of N9150.

This course is designed to provide the tools for the doctorally prepared nurse to evaluate, translate and integrate published research results into clinical practice. During the course, students will learn how to conceptualize clinical practice problems and transform them into answerable clinical research questions, how to search for the best clinical evidence, and how to assess clinical evidence using basic epidemiological, biostatistical and scientific principles. The course will culminate in a systematic review or meta-analysis of a body of research relevant to advanced practice nursing.

The Well Woman Gynecology Module is designed to concentrate on the physical, emotional and educational needs of the essentially healthy woman. It covers a variety of topics including: health maintenance, gynecologic screening, family planning, sexuality and sexual dysfunction, and the late (4-6 week) postpartum period.