News

January/February 2002

As the holidays and good weather passes school has resumed. Many of the students from the third midwifery class have joined with class two as the transition for Women’s Health takes a place in the program sequencing to precede the Antepartum midwifery course. We are sure many new friendships will form and the “sisterhood” of nurse-midwifery grows throughout Kansas and Missouri.
Enrollment for class three continues to increase. We have at this time 4 masters track students completing core graduate courses and 4 to 5 post-masters students that will join in the summer. Two post-masters students have confirmed their intention to begin, Hatsie Mallicoat from Overland Park, KS and Kay Garman from the Phillipsburg, KS area. One student for Class 04 began the master’s core this spring, part-time, Kyanna Shelar who lives in the Johnson County area. If you see her, welcome her to the group. Another Class 04 student, Sherry Payne, is working on her master’s core at UMKC. One foreign student, Tzu-Yuan Chen is beginning her master’s courses via the Internet from Taiwan. Many other interested candidates are in the pipeline considering when the best time frame is for them to begin. Our current goal is to accept 10 students/year and to adjust that cap as CNM clinical sites increase. The interest in nurse-midwifery remains high. Some early discussion to evaluate the feasibility of a combined CNM/FNP option has started.
Remember the ACNM Accreditation site visit schedule. Please come and spend time with the site visitors on Thursday, February 21st from 11:30-1:00 either in SON 3031 or the Sigma Theta Tau room on the third floor, 3025. Feel free to bring a sack lunch if you need to. Kimberly Negrete, CNM, graduate in the first class will be present as well as representation from Class 2 and 3. Let me know if you did not receive the accreditation report sent via e-mail and I will forward another. Thank you all for your assistance in this process.
The three core faculty, Jacki Witt, Judie and I will be meeting on a more frequent regular basis to discuss curriculum, clinical experiences, quality improvement issues and student suggestions. Representation from one or two students would be helpful and appreciated. Please let one of us know if you are interested. No confidential student information will be shared during these meetings.
Let us know of your personal news, awards, or ideas that you would like shared. We will be happy to post them in the monthly update.
Two federal grants and one private, local grant are being submitted to assist in the development of a faculty based practice. Look for some jubilation in early Spring!