Direct entry midwifery education. Evaluation of program innovations

Area of Science:

• Midwifery Education
• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professions

Background:

• The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) preaccredited a novel direct entry (DE) midwifery program.
• This program aimed to educate individuals without prior nursing experience as midwives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the academic performance and clinical skill acquisition of the inaugural cohort of direct entry midwifery students.
• To assess the effectiveness of supplementary medical science and basic health skills courses for DE students.

Main Methods:

• A one-year direct entry midwifery curriculum was implemented.
• Students received supplementary instruction in medical sciences and basic health skills.
• Academic performance and clinical progression were compared between DE and registered nurse (RN) midwifery students.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in academic performance was observed between DE and RN midwifery students.
• DE students acquired entry-level midwifery skills at a pace comparable to RN students.
• Supplementary courses effectively bridged knowledge gaps for DE students, with some RN students also benefiting.

Conclusions:

• The direct entry midwifery education model is viable and produces competent graduates.
• Supplementary education is beneficial for direct entry students to equalize knowledge bases.
• The curriculum design supports successful entry-level midwifery skill acquisition for diverse student backgrounds.