Nurse-Midwifery Doctor of Nursing Practice at Baylor University
Baylor University’s online DNP Nurse-Midwifery program stands out as one of the leading nurse-midwife programs Texas offers, preparing nurses to meet the rising demand for nurse-midwives with advanced clinical and leadership skills.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses who complete graduate education (Master’s or DNP) in nurse-midwifery. They provide comprehensive, woman-centered care and advocate for evidence-based healthcare policy while demonstrating advanced clinical judgment and interpersonal skills. CNMs are licensed in all 50 states to care for women from puberty through post-menopause. Although often associated with pregnancy and childbirth, nurse-midwives also provide preconception, reproductive, gynecologic, family planning, postpartum, and primary care. They can care for normal newborns up to 28 days old and even treat male partners for sexually transmitted infections.
The Rising Demand for Nurse-Midwives in the U.S.
There are now 44 nurse-midwifery education programs in the U.S. accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and over 14,000 certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives nationwide. Midwives attended about 12% of all U.S. births in 2021 – a proportion that has grown significantly in recent years. Demand for midwives continues to increase, yet midwifery remains underutilized in America.
ACNM’s recent workforce study found the U.S. has roughly four midwives per 1,000 births and would need at least 22,000 midwives (versus 14,000 today) to meet optimal care standards. This gap of over 8,000 midwives highlights ample opportunity for new CNMs to fill crucial roles in maternal healthcare. The career outlook is certainly promising: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects overall employment of advanced practice nurses (including nurse midwives) to grow 40% from 2023 to 2033 – much faster than average – and reports a median annual salary around $132,050 for nurse midwives.
The Baylor University DNP Nurse-Midwifery program embraces the ideals of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and Baylor’s own mission of service. At Baylor, we are committed to academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. Our Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) has a distinguished reputation and a motto of Learn. Lead. Serve.® that’s reflected in our approach to nurse-midwifery education. For over 115 years, Baylor’s nursing school has prepared thousands of graduates to lead and serve in health care, exemplifying a tradition of servant leadership appreciated by patients, employers and communities alike.
Learn more about Baylor's Online DNP Nurse-Midwifery program
How are Nurse-Midwives educated and certified?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse-Midwifery – such as the one offered through Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing – prepares RNs with a BSN or MSN to provide advanced holistic, women-centered care across the lifespan. Baylor’s DNP-Nurse Midwifery track is a rigorous online nurse-midwifery program that BSN-prepared nurses typically complete in about three years (75 credit hours) of full-time study.The curriculum is taught by nationally recognized faculty and emphasizes advanced skills in pregnancy and birth, postpartum and newborn care, women’s health, and preventive care – all delivered in a compassionate, faith-based environment. Our DNP-NM track is one of the top online nurse-midwifery programs for working nurses seeking faith-based clinical training. The program, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and ACME, is delivered primarily online with periodic on-campus immersion sessions at Baylor’s Dallas, Texas campus. This hybrid format allows students to continue working as nurses while earning their doctorate.
Upon graduation, DNP nurse-midwifery students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), becoming Certified Nurse-Midwives. AMCB certification qualifies nurse-midwives for licensure in all 50 states. Baylor’s flexible format makes it one of the most accessible nurse-midwife programs Texas provides for BSN-prepared nurses.
Baylor’s nurse-midwifery training is grounded in the core values of the profession. Below is the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ Philosophy of Care, as stated on its website, which guides our program and the midwives we educate:
We, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, affirm the power and strength of all people seeking midwifery care and the importance of health in the wellbeing of families, communities, and nations. We believe in the basic human rights of all persons and recognize that some incur disproportionate risk when these rights are violated. Human dignity and bodily autonomy are basic human rights that should be protected and respected in all areas of care, including in reproductive and sexual health.
We believe every person has a right to:
- Equitable, ethical, accessible, quality health care that promotes healing and health.
- Health care providers that demonstrate respect for human dignity, individuality, and diversity among groups; act without bias or discrimination; and actively seek to disrupt systems of power and privilege that cause harm.
- Complete, accurate, and accessible information to make informed health care decisions.
- Self-determination and active participation in health care decisions, as the final decision maker of the health care team.
- Involvement of people the individual considers important to them, to the extent desired, in all health care experiences.
We believe the best model of health care:
- Includes the full scope of health across the lifespan.
- Involves a continuous and compassionate partnership between persons seeking care and their health care providers.
- Recognizes the importance of interdisciplinary, collaborative care.
- Respects the individual’s absolute right to bodily autonomy.
- Honors a person's expertise, life experiences, community, and historical knowledge.
- Includes methods of care and healing guided by research and best available evidence, centered on the individual’s decisions, values, and preferences.
- Balances watchful waiting and support of physiologic processes with the appropriate use of interventions and technology.
- Involves therapeutic use of human presence and skillful communication.
These beliefs and values, centered in cultural humility and delineated in ACNM’s Vision, Mission, and Core Values provide the foundation for commitment to individual and collective leadership at the community, state, national and international levels to improve health. We affirm that midwifery care incorporates these qualities and that healthcare needs are well-served through midwifery care.
Take the Next Step with Baylor’s Online DNP Nurse-Midwifery Program
Baylor’s online DNP Nurse-Midwifery program addresses the growing need for certified nurse-midwives across the country and offers an environment where students excel as professionals and leaders. If you’re comparing nurse-midwife programs in Texas, Baylor stands out for its academic rigor and student-centered experience.
Dallis Coleman, a current student in the program, shares how the curriculum has equipped her for the real-world demands of midwifery: “The quality of this program has been very rigorous, which is very important to me because I want to ensure that when I go into the workforce, I’m completely prepared. …Being able to learn from [engaged faculty] and grow with them has just been an amazing experience.”
She also emphasizes the program’s flexibility and personal growth potential for those managing multiple roles: “My experience in the online program has been very rewarding as a mother, as a nurse, and just as a person within my community. I feel like I’ve had the chance to grow. I feel like I’m constantly learning new skills and new ways of improving processes.”
Baylor’s faith-based approach and supportive faculty ensure that you won’t be alone on your journey. For aspiring nurse-midwives who seek greater autonomy, advanced clinical expertise, and a chance to lead positive change in maternal-child health, Baylor’s program provides the academic excellence and mentorship to help you achieve those goals. You will graduate fully prepared to serve women and families with confidence and compassion, backed by Baylor’s outstanding reputation in health education.