The evolution of midwifery faculty practice: impact and outcomes of care

The Yale School of Nursing Nurse-Midwifery program was started in 1956 and is the second oldest existing master's degree program in the country. With an increase in student enrollment and a decrease in available clinical sites in the late 1990s, 2 initiatives for faculty practices were begun. Since then, the faculty practices have significantly strengthened the clinical teaching component of the educational program. The development and growth of the nurse-midwifery faculty practices has not been without its challenges. There are 3 lessons learned: The importance of a good business infrastructure, the importance of a positive relationship with physician colleagues, and the value of uncertainty. Two benefits of the practices are the modeling of evidence-based practice and the potential for research on nurse-midwifery care and outcomes.