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Where Experience Becomes Expertise
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Midwifery is a degree that focuses on the assessment and application of existing evidence to improve practice. Taught as a cohort program, students are educated in the fundamental skills necessary to make a difference in the discipline of midwifery and in healthcare of women and newborns: population-level health care, organizational systems, leadership, business management, clinical scholarship, information technology, and policy-making. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Midwifery concentration, is a full-time, partially front-loaded program, designed to meet the competencies for the practice doctorate in midwifery set forth by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and to meet the ACNM Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice.
The program prepares students as expert nurse midwives for every stage and in every setting in which midwifery care is delivered to women. Because nurse midwives are responsible for direct patient care, students gain hands-on experience in providing gynecologic, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and breastfeeding care under the supervision of Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) faculty. Nurse midwifery students will attend births in a variety of settings with a heavy focus on normal physiological birth. They will also be prepared to recognize and co-manage high-risk obstetric and gynecologic cases within an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
DNP Nurse Midwifery program receives a HRSA Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant | Egan School of Nursing
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆEgan Fast Facts
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Philosophy of the Nurse Midwifery Program
The faculty of the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies DNP-NM program adopts the Philosophy of Care from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). The Egan School is committed to educating nurse midwives at the doctoral level who are prepared to provide excellent midwifery care and who will serve as leaders in the healthcare setting. Our graduates will have a deep commitment to social justice and will be invested in improving care for women and families.
The Egan School believes that nurse midwifery education should be rooted in the science and art of midwifery, teaching students how to provide holistic, individualized, family-centered care, with an emphasis on shared decision-making and practicing according to evidence-based guidelines. The Egan School believes that it is important for interprofessional healthcare education and trauma-informed care to be woven throughout the holistic nurse midwifery curriculum. Our graduates will appreciate aspects of palliative and supportive midwifery care during perinatal loss.
The Egan School also believes midwifery education should foster a deepening of one’s own commitment to caring for vulnerable populations. Our graduates will practice midwifery in effective and ethical ways in all settings, respecting the dignity of every person.
Requirements & Curriculum
Required Courses
Epidemiology and Biostatistics |
Advanced Healthcare Policy |
Research Methods for Evidenced-Based Practice |
Advanced Nursing Roles and Reflective Practice |
Population Health |
Research Translation for Clinical Practice |
Finance and Quality Management in Healthcare Organizations |
Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement |
Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration |
DNP Immersion |
DNP Seminar I |
DNP Seminar II |
Advanced Health Assessment |
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology |
Advanced Pharmacology |
Antepartum Care |
Women's Primary Care and Gynecological Health I |
Women's Primary Care and Gynecological Health II |
Intrapartum Care |
Advanced Midwifery Management: At-Risk Childbirth |
Antepartum Clinical |
Women's Primary Care and Gynecological Health Clinical |
Intrapartum Clinical |
Advanced Midwifery Clinical |
Integration to Nurse-Midwifery Practice |
A detailed list of course requirements, offerings, and more can be viewed in the University’s .
Accreditations
The midwifery program at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) c/o American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2000 Duke Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
For information about accreditation, please contact ACME directly.
Tel: (703) 835-4565; Email: support@theacme.org; Website:
Egan Admission
This cohort program begins once each year in September. Qualified applicants will be invited to campus for an interview. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee and are accepted on a rolling basis until August 1.
Certification
The DNP Nurse Midwifery (DNP-NM) curriculum at the Egan School prepares students to be eligible for the Certification Examination of the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
The first graduating class of 2020 had a 100% AMCB pass rate.
The second graduating class of 2021 had a 100% AMCB pass rate.
The third graduating class of 2023 had a 100% AMCB pass rate.
*The Egan School goal for American Midwifery Certification Board pass rates within one year of graduation is >85%.
Latest DNP Nurse Midwifery News
![](/files/images/graduate-and-professional-studies/egan-school-of-nursing-and-health-studies/programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-nurse-midwifery/1260503314_midwifery_news_egan_scholarship_1000x1000_12042023.png)
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆEgan’s DNP Nurse Midwifery Program Awarded $1.22 Million HRSA Grant
The grant will be awarded over four years, through HRSA's Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion (MatCARE) program.
Stag Spotlight
![Emily Baldwin headshot](/files/images/graduate-and-professional-studies/egan-school-of-nursing-and-health-studies/programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-nurse-midwifery/baldwin-emily_13140_12042018.jpg)
Emily Baldwin
‘16, RN, DNP ‘20
Veterans Health Administration
What were your reasons for choosing Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ for your advanced degree?
I chose Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ for my advanced degree because it’s close to home and ranked as a top graduate nursing school in the country. I loved my professors during undergrad and was excited to work with them again. I’m able to learn so much from the staff here at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆand they are always in your court cheering you on!
What have you liked about your Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆeducation?
I like how invested the professors are in my studies and how they strive to make sure I reach my goals.
Please explain what you would tell someone considering an advanced degree at Fairfield.
I think Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ is a great place to pursue an advanced degree. We have a beautiful state of the art new facility with top of line simulators, equipment, and the most qualified staff. Additionally, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆhas great relationships with local hospitals and preceptors are eager to take Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆstudents because they know how well we’re trained.
Please describe how working toward your advanced degree at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆhas affected your life.
Being in a full time doctorate program and working part time has definitely made me more conscious of my time management skills. I wanted to make sure I could pursue my degree, still work, and still have a life and being at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆhas allowed me to do so.
Please describe any interesting project or research opportunity you have had while at Fairfield.
As a doctoral student I’m conducting research into educating new parents on CPR and managing infant emergencies.
![](/files/images/faculty-staff-profiles/sacrt/headshot_placeholder.jpg)
Grace Lessard
‘15, RN, DNP ‘20
Yale New Haven Hospital
What were your reasons for choosing Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ for your advanced degree?
I absolutely loved my time at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ as an undergraduate student. The engaging classroom environment, personal connections with professors, diverse clinical experiences, and lifetime friendships with my classmates all contributed to a wonderful experience. In seeking graduate programs, I wanted to have that same personalized experience that I feel is unique to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ.
What have you liked about your Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆeducation?
I am one of three women in the inaugural midwifery class. I love that we have small, intimate classes with our program faculty for our midwifery track classes, but we also have classes with other DNP tracks. Gaining the perspective of students in other tracks has been incredibly beneficial to my learning and professional development.
Please explain what you would tell someone considering an advanced degree at Fairfield.
If you are passionate about nursing, and want to make that next step forward in your career with a supportive, motivating community, become a stag!
Please describe how working toward your advanced degree at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆhas affected your life.
The midwifery program has strengthened my passion for women’s health, as well as my confidence in my ability to make a positive, lasting impact in my career.
Please describe any interesting project or research opportunity you have had while at Fairfield.
I am looking forward to working with my program director, Jenna LoGiudice, CNM, PhD, to complete a qualitative research DNP project.
More Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse Midwifery
Enrollment, Graduation, and Attrition
Matriculation Year | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|
Number of students matriculating in this cohort | 4 | 4 |
Goal for On-Time Graduation | 75% | 75% |
Attrition (%) who left the midwifery program | 25% | 0% |
On-time Graduation Rate | 75% | Set to graduate in 2021 |
Final Graduation Rate | 75% | Set to graduate in 2021 |
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆis dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.
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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ’s Egan School boasts experienced faculty who inspire students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. These students are actively engaged with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service.