DETROIT, March 2008 - One of the newest academic programs at the Wayne State University College of Nursing, the Nurse Midwifery Program, has received accreditation without recommendations for five years from the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), while the College's Pediatric Nursing Program has received a three-year reaccreditation from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

"We are extremely proud that these two programs, which prepare nurses to care for our youngest and most vulnerable patients, have passed the rigorous examinations and site visits required to receive full accreditation from their governing bodies," says WSU College of Nursing Dean Barbara K. Redman. "I believe this accomplishment speaks volumes about the superb quality of our programs and the dedication of our faculty, which should receive the credit for their hard work in achieving these milestones."

The Nurse Midwifery Program, designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to perform as certified nurse-midwives in the primary care of women and newborns, was initially pre-accredited in March 2004 by the ACNM before the College's first group of students entered the specialty. The program was required to apply for full accreditation within six months, and received an on-site visit from the ACNM last fall.

"We are now fully accredited by the ACNM for the maximum term allowed for a new program's first accreditation," says Dr. Deborah Walker, DNSc, CNM, WHNP, FNP-BC, FACNM, College of Nursing associate professor and graduate program director of the nurse-midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner specialties. "Accreditation enables our students to take the national certification exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board to become Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). It also gives us recognition and standing in the midwifery community by affirming that our curriculum is congruent with the ACNM Core Competencies and Standards for Practice."

The College of Nursing graduated its first nurse-midwife class in May 2007. The graduates scored a 100 percent pass rate on the national certification exam.