The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Nurse-Midwifery program provides the student with the necessary skills and knowledge to assume the role of a Certified Nurse-Midwife in a variety of clinical settings. Didactic and course content focuses on role development and the assessment and management of women’s health (antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal periods, as well as primary women’s health) throughout the lifespan. The program can be completed online and in 6 semesters.

Cohorts are established annually in the Fall. Core courses are offered online synchronously, while the specialty courses are offered online asynchronously. During the second year students attend one four-day on-campus intensive in the fall and spring. Students identify potential clinical site placements in their home communities and will be assisted with confirmations by SU clinical placement coordinators.  Clinical site identification is discussed during the interview process.  Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

The Nurse-Midwifery Program at Shenandoah University is fully accredited by the ACNM Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), 2000 Duke Street, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22314; Tel: 703-835-4565, support@theacme.org, theacme.org.

Learn more about Nurse-Midwifery at Shenandoah and Nurse-Midwifery Accreditations

Our program prepares you to assume the role of a certified nurse-midwife in a variety of clinical settings. Didactic and clinical course content focuses on role development and the assessment and management of an individual’s health (antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal periods, as well as primary care) throughout the lifespan. Upon earning your degree and successful board certification, you may work in a variety of settings. 

American College of Nurse-Midwives

Graduate core courses are offered online synchronously while the specialty courses are offered online asynchronously. The Nurse-Midwifery specialty courses are offered in a hybrid format that allows you to access course modules online on the Canvas Learning System and work with clinical preceptors for your clinical experiences.  Clinical Placement is a collaborative process between the student and the faculty.  Clinical site identification is discussed during the interview process.

The degree requirement is 49 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Must maintain a B average in core courses. Clinical practicum is approximately 720 clock hours.

SU Core Curriculum Plan of Study 

These courses will be taken in the first year of the program for students attending full-time.

Nurse-Midwifery Specialty Courses

Credits: 46

Clinical Hours: 720

*Although the SU School of Nursing has a 1:4 clinical hour/clock hour ratio, the minimum # of hours is extended due to unique nature of Nurse-Midwifery case (1 birth/many hours).

During the second year of study, students will be on campus for a four day immersion in both the Fall and Spring semesters, and will not be on campus at all in the Summer semester.

1. Synthesize evidence-based practice, clinical guidelines, and clinical judgment to improve the quality of clinical practice in diverse populations with consideration for social determinants of health.
2. Apply ethical, cultural, legal, and social factors that influence access, equity, quality, and cost-effectiveness to nurse-midwifery practice.
3. Demonstrate, through competency-based evaluation, the delivery, management, health policy process, and leadership of advanced practice nursing and population health in nurse-midwifery care settings. 
4. Create interprofessional dialogues and utilize healthcare technologies to optimize clinical decision-making and evidence-based practice to support and strengthen patient outcomes in all nurse-midwifery care settings.
5. Construct a sustainable professional nurse-midwifery identity and practice that reflects compassionate, holistic, and wellness-focused person-centered care for diverse populations.

Meet Penny R. Marzalik, Associate Professor and Nurse-Midwifery Program Director

Meet The Nursing Faculty

The Nurse-Midwifery Program At Shenandoah University Offers A Number Of Programs To Meet The Needs Of Each Student.

• Masters Of Science In Nurse-Midwifery
• Post Graduate Certificate In Midwifery

Through our Midwifery Initiative you can even receive your Graduate degree from a collaborating school and receive your midwifery education at Shenandoah University.

We’re excited you’re interested in one of our graduate nursing programs! Shenandoah reviews applications on a rolling basis, which means we will begin evaluating your application once all your documentation has been submitted. Students submitting completed applications before our priority deadlines will be considered first.

Application Information

Program Prerequisites

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a CCNE or an ACEN accredited institution. Recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Applicants must have completed or will complete the following prerequisite course requirements prior to enrolling at Shenandoah:
  • Undergraduate Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology courses. Recommended grade of “B” or better.
  • Undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of “C” or better. 
  • Undergraduate Chemistry course with a grade of “C” or better. 

Admissions Requirements

• Graduate application along with $30 application fee
• Unofficial transcripts for initial admission from all institutions of higher education previously attended
• 3 letters of recommendation
  • One from previous nursing faculty (if graduated in last five years)
  • Two professional references to attest to clinical experience (with Master’s degree or higher preferred)
• Documentation of one full year of direct patient care prior to specialty courses
• Documentation of 2,080 RN or APRN direct patient care hours
• Current resume/C.V.
• Essay (250-500 words) answering the following question:
  • Why are you choosing to pursue the Nurse-Midwifery role?
• Documentation of one full year of direct patient care prior to specialty courses
• Unencumbered RN license – multi-state or individual state (must obtain licensure in the state(s) in which you will do clinical rotations.
• Interview with graduate nursing faculty may be required
• Language Proficiency Requirement must be met. Submission of TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET) may be required. See our policy for full details.  https://www.su.edu/admissions/international-students
• Upon admission, up-to-date immunizations and health records, a criminal background check, a urine drug screen, and CPR (from AHA only) will be required

For international students who require a visa, due to limited on-campus hours, F-1 visas are not issued for this program.

HOW DO I APPLY?
Submit the Graduate Application

Beginning Fall 2024, the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing at Shenandoah University will offer assured graduate program admission to its BSN or MSN alumni who are interested in earning an MSN, post-master’s specialty certificate, and/or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Alumni must meet minimum admission requirements to the MSN, post-master’s, and DNP programs, and will be required to submit an application by the application deadline. Alumni are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of February 15 to secure placement within their desired cohort.

School of Nursing alumni are assured entry into the following graduate programs:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) MSN
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) MSN
• Nurse-Midwifery (NM) MSN
• All Post-Master’s Certificates – FNP, PMHNP, NM
• Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

We encourage alumni to learn more about this benefit and our graduate programs. For more information, please contact Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Programs Robbie McCauley, DNP, at rmccaule87@su.edu.