Integrating qualified nurses and non-nurses in midwifery education: The two-year experience of an ACNM DOA accredited program

In 1996, the Division of accreditation (DOA) of the American College of Nur se-Midwives (ACNM) preaccredited the first direct entry program of midwifer y education for candidates who already possess undergraduate degrees in non -nursing disciplines. Inaugurated through the partnership of the State Univ ersity of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and the North Central Bronx Hospital, this 1-year, postbaccalaureate, certificate program of stud ies graduated two integrated classes of 22 registered nurse (RN) and nine d irect entry (DE) students between 1997 and 1998. This article presents the experience of the first 2 years of this innovativ e prograrn, focusing on the profiles of the DE students, their achievements , and their experiences entering the workforce. All of the data comparing n urse and non-nurse student progress through the program of studies strongly support the conclusion that, within an ACNM DOA preaccredited/accredited m idwifery education program, DE students can achieve standards of academic e xcellence and clinical competency that are at least equivalent to those dem onstrated by their RN peers. (C) 2000 by the American College of Nurse-Midw ives.