nurse-midwifery truly has gone mainstream in the last three
decades. In 1963, there were 275 midwives in the US, who cared primarily for
indigent women and those in remote areas. Today, more than 6,000 certified
nurse-midwives practice in hospitals, clinics, and birthing centers all over the
country. Ninety-five percent of midwife-assisted births occur in hospitals, where
physicians are available for consultations or referrals if necessary. Certified
midwives must graduate from a program accredited by the American College of
Nurse-Midwives and pass a national exam. There are currently 50 such programs in
the US, all affiliated with universities or nursing schools. UMDNJ's
Nurse-Midwifery Education Program was started as a midwifery practice in 1972 by
Teresa Marsico, who had graduated from a program in Santa Fe, NM. At the time,
there were only ten such programs in the US. At first, Marsico worked alone, but
within a year, other faculty members were hired. In 1975, UMDNJ's School of
Health Related Professions admitted its first class of nurse-midwifery students.
Since then, 260 nurse-midwives have graduated. Its current director is Elaine K.
Diegmann, ND. (Marsico, the program's first director, stepped down in 1990, but
remains a faculty member.) UMDNJ's program, which takes a year to complete,
includes instruction in pharmacology, pelvic examination, and resuscitation and
emergency care of the newborn. Students (all registered nurses) receive their
clinical training in the midwifery practice. Nurse-midwives have
prescription-writing authority in 41 states. "While we are qualified to
administer IVs, give regional anesthetics, and perform episiotomies, we do less
of them than doctors," said Marsico. For information about the UMDNJ
Nurse-Midwifery Program, call 973-972-4249.
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