If you want to make a difference in women’s healthcare, then pursuing a master’s degree in Midwifery would be ideal for you. Many nursing schools in the U.S. are now offering a Master Of Science (M.S) In Nurse-Midwifery, which can be completed within three years.
The goal of the Master of Science (M.S) in Midwifery is to prepare students to diagnose, evaluate, and manage common complications during postpartum, intrapartum and antepartum periods. The degree also trains candidates to provide exceptional care to patients with low-risk and normal pregnancies.
If you want to learn more about this program, the course content and program requirements, then take a look at this informative article.
What Is Midwifery?
The practice or profession of helping women in childbirth is known as midwifery. This health science deals with sexual and reproductive health of females, childbirth, and pregnancy.
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Midwifery?
Graduates have the following career options available to them:
-
They can work as independent healthcare providers and operate private clinics that focus on home births.
-
They can work in community birth centers as nurse mid-wives who provide family-centered health care services to women.
-
Graduates can work as nursing instructors and can deliver birthing and pregnancy classes either privately or through different organizations. They can teach women about healthy eating, birthing positions, breathing techniques and new-born care.
-
They can serve as national policy advocates.
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
These professionals provide specialty and primary healthcare. The following employment figures have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2018: $113,930
-
Job Growth, 2018-2028: 26%
Nurse Midwives
These experts coordinate different aspects of birthing process on their own, or as part of a medical team. They also provide gynecological care to women.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2019: $105,030
-
Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $108,810
-
State with the Highest Salary, 2019: California - $154,500
-
State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: California - 690
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Post-secondary
These experts teach patient care in clinical units and classrooms.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2019: $74,600
-
Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $83,160
-
State with the Highest Salary, 2019: District of Columbia - $157,560
-
State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: New York - 5030
Note: These figures have been obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What to Expect in a Master-Level Midwifery Program?
Read this section to find out more about the specialization pathways and course content of the Master’s degree in Midwifery.
Areas of Concentration
Midwifery students can further specialize in neonatal nursing.
Midwifery Modules
As part of the Master’s degree, you will study the following courses: Advanced Health Promotion & Assessment, Advanced Concepts in Physiology & Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology & Therapeutics among others.
How to Choose a Midwifery Program?
While choosing a Master's degree in Midwifery, applicants should consider the following factors:
-
Accreditation Status: You can check whether a Master’s program is accredited by reputable accrediting bodies such as the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council (MEAC).
-
Study Options: You can check whether the program is being offered in online and blended learning formats. If you are a working professional who finds it hard to commit to a full-time schedule, then a blended leaning format would be more suited to you. Such programs allow flexibility by combining face-to-face and online learning methods.
-
Curriculum: You should check whether the curriculum is up to date and in line with the recent developments in the healthcare industry.
Admission Requirements
Each nursing school has its own set of admission requirements. Generally, applicants are expected to submit the admission form along with the official transcripts, professional letters of reference, and personal essays.
Pre-Requisites
Before applying for the Master’s program, students should keep the following in mind:
-
Those who are applying to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Midwifery track are expected to have a Baccalaureate nursing degree (BSN) from a regionally accredited university or college.
-
Those enrolling in Master of Science (M.S) in Nurse-Midwifery are expected to have a bachelor’s degree and should have knowledge of college-level Algebra/Statistics, Psychology, Introductory Nutrition, General Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology. If the students haven’t completed these courses, they will have to complete these pre-requisites before they can start the Master’s program.
Program Requirements
Individuals enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Midwifery track may have to complete up to 51 semester credit hours in order to graduate.