Penny R. Marzalik, PhD, APRN-CNM, IBCLC, Associate Professor
Nurse-Midwifery Program Director

The School of Nursing offers a Post Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery for RNs who already hold a graduate degree (MS, MSN, DNP or PhD) in Nursing. The Post Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery includes the knowledge and skills needed to educate new midwives in the full scope of the midwifery management process. Didactic and clinical course content focuses on role development, assessment and management of women’s health, antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal and neonatal periods, as well as primary women’s health throughout the lifespan. It integrates independent, collaborative, consultative and referral-based midwifery management within an interprofessional healthcare environment. The Midwifery Management Process is included in the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ (ACNM) “Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice (2020)” that serves as curricular guidelines to assure that quality education for midwives occurs within the program. The program is also based on the ACNM Standards for the Practice of Midwifery, the Philosophy of ACNM and the ACNM Code of Ethics to assure that all graduates assume responsibility for the concepts and skills associated with the Midwifery Management Process. Shenandoah University’s mission and goals provide the context for this program’s curricular delivery.

The certificate is designed to meet the needs of the highly motivated masters-prepared adult learner. Course work can be completed in 12 months of study. Although there is a minimum of 720 hours in the nurse-midwifery specialty courses, completion is based on competency attainment and is dependent on intrapartum experiences. Both features may require more clinical hours than are allotted for in the formal clinical clock hour ratio outlined in the program. These two unique features are explained to students upon entry into the program. Graduates of this certificate program will be eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Successful completion of this examination allows the practitioner to use the professional title, “Certified Nurse-Midwife.”

Post Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery Program Objectives

Graduates of the Post Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery will be able to:

1. Synthesize theories from nursing and related arts and sciences in providing nurse-midwifery care for diverse women and their families.
2. Demonstrate safe and evidence-based care for diverse women and their families across the lifespan.
3. Identify therapeutic nurse-midwifery interventions and assume accountability for outcomes for clients and families.
4. Demonstrate non-discriminatory, equitable and respectful clinical practice and communication that respects basic human rights and dignity of all persons.
5. Contribute to the discipline of nurse-midwifery and the profession of nursing through scientific inquiry.
6. Demonstrate leadership and collaboration among midwives and other health care providers to improve clinical practice.
7. Participate in self-evaluation, peer review, lifelong learning and other activities that ensure and validate quality practice.
8. Promote and support the education of midwifery students and peers, standards of practice, research and policies that enhance the health of women, families and communities.