Family Nurse - Midwife
The Family Nurse-Midwife (FNM) program is designed to prepare culturally competent practitioners to provide healthcare to underserved populations. National workforce needs are emphasized in four distinct ways: a) collaboration with family practice physicians who practice obstetrics in underserved areas; b) provision of care to vulnerable populations such as underserved ethnic minorities; c) provision of primary care services to women who receive these services primarily in an ob-gyn setting; and d) provision of comprehensive primary care to all ages. Upon completion of the program, the family nurse-midwife is prepared to take the certification exams for both Certified Nurse Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner.
In addition to the benefits listed above for the integration of bioethics knowledge into the preparation for Family Nurse Practitioners, training in bioethics is essential for those entering the field of reproductive health care. From the provision of contraception and contraceptive counseling to the successful delivery of a healthy infant, ethical issues make reproductive health care one of the most contentious areas of contemporary healthcare practice. Knowing one’s own values prior to encountering challenges may prepare students to address issues as they arise; as a result, bioethics education, with its focus on personal and professional systems of value, is an important component of professional training.