Turning Point Reflective Essay

Since midwifery was introduced in the United States by Mary Breckinridge in 1925, many obstacles to professional maintenance and sustainment have been hurdled (Stone, 2000). The environment today of which most midwives deliver care to women is currently in the hospital setting. Strong opposition exists for home births and free standing birthing centers. The required level of education obtained by nurse midwives (NM) has evolved drastically since its introduction in the United States. Establishment of midwifery care in the hospital setting and the recent educational push to obtain a doctorate degree in nursing practice (DNP) as entry level into practice are historical turning points in the evolving profession of nurse midwifery.

Introduction of midwifery care in the hospital setting has caused several obstacles in sustaining the profession. This practice made women lose their control of the child birthing environment which became controlled by physicians. Today childbirth is often treated as an illness verses a normal healthy event. Midwifes strive to give women the power to guide the care received. This change took autonomy of the delivery experience away from women. Resistance from physicians to allow NM to care for healthy women independently is an ongoing obstacle.

On the other hand, introduction of midwifery care in hospitals has evolved and opened long lasting career opportunities. This turning point in history has given us the ability to develop a career that will have lifelong benefits into retirement. Midwifes may now be employed by large healthcare systems that offer many financial benefits unobtainable from a private in the home birthing practice. Hospital employment allows midwives to be a valuable membe...

... middle of paper ...

...d nurses help make the nursing profession strong and progressive which is important over time for sustainment.

Overall, turning points in history will continue to shape how nurse midwifery is delivered to women. We as providers need to strive to empower women to take control of their experiences while providing them a safe and successful child birthing experience that decreases the maternal and infant mortality rate. Practicing nurse midwifery in a hospital setting and being educated in DNP education will both benefit and expand the care of the childbearing women.

Works Cited

Position statement: midwifery education and the doctor of nursing practice (DNP). (2012). Retrieved from www.midwife.org

Stone, S. E. (2000, November/December). The evolving scope of nurse-midwifery practice in the United States. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 45 (6), 522-531.