Didactic Training

The naturopathic midwifery program is not a freestanding curriculum but is interwoven with the naturopathic medicine curriculum. It adds approximately one year to the naturopathic medicine program when taken concurrently. Students planning to complete the midwifery program are advised to choose the 5B naturopathic medicine curriculum plan in order to allow for the additional clinical and classroom hours required. NOTE: Students not enrolled in the 5B track will not be placed in high volume, local internship sites.

Many courses in the naturopathic medicine program are prerequisites for the naturopathic midwifery program. Students enrolled in the naturopathic midwifery program may apply nine credits of required midwifery course work toward the 15 elective credits required in the naturopathic medicine program. Students entering the naturopathic midwifery program under this catalog have no requirement for midwifery electives; however, students are strongly encouraged to take electives offered by the naturopathic midwifery department as well as those electives offered by other departments that are applicable to family, maternal, infant and pediatric care.

Students are assessed by classroom faculty and clinical faculty for proficiency in course-specific and clinical competencies as well as the Bastyr global competencies.

Clinical Training

The naturopathic midwifery program requires extensive supervised clinical experience, including the care of women and their babies throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period. The addition of this program greatly deepens and broadens clinical expertise via at least 1500 additional hours of supervised patient interactions, physical examinations, charting, lab procedures, etc.

Students are required to manage 75 prenatal visits (of which 20 must be the initial prenatal visit) and 50 postpartum visits, to actively participate in at least 25 births and to manage 50 births under the supervision of an approved preceptor while enrolled in the academic program. In order to enter birth practicum, students must be admitted into the naturopathic midwifery program, have successfully completed all basic science courses and MW7320 Normal Maternity. Students will receive 100% supervision during all aspects of clinical training. Prior to managing births or performing any skills independently at births, students must have completed MW7303 Labor Complications.

Of the 50 births managed, 15 must be with one preceptor. Fifteen of the managements must be births at home or in an out-of-hospital setting. To satisfy continuity of care requirements, at least four of these managements must be with women for whom the student has provided primary care during at least four prenatal visits, the birth, a newborn exam and one postpartum exam. In addition, the management of 20 newborn exams must be documented. Students are required to train in at least two different preceptor sites. Each of the 75 birth experiences counts as one-half credit, for a total of 37.5 credits. Advanced clinical standing status may be approved by the naturopathic midwifery department chair.

All clinical experience is gained in internships secured by students with approved physicians or midwives practicing in the U.S. or abroad. Each student is responsible for arranging his/her own internship with guidance and assistance from the naturopathic midwifery department. All preceptors must be practicing legally within their state or country and must be approved by the department chair. Approval can take as long as eight weeks for out-of-state sites. Advanced students may be placed in an overseas, high-volume birth site. These sites are hospital-based and require at least a one-month commitment. See the financial aid office for loan information.

Students are required to obtain training in neonatal resuscitation, a TB test, a Washington State Patrol background check, and must complete a criminal history disclosure form before beginning their internships. Information about times and locations of neonatal resuscitation workshops is available through the naturopathic midwifery department. Students are responsible for the costs incurred in this training and must keep it current, along with their adult CPR training, throughout the clinical training experience.

Once placed in an internship, students are required to meet with the naturopathic midwifery department chair each quarter to review progress and evaluations, and to register births. If students are interning at a distance, they must maintain timely contact with the chair each quarter by whatever means appropriate. Those admitted to the program who are not involved in an internship are also expected to schedule and attend a quarterly advising session with the chair.