(1) The department shall adopt standards for accredited and approved midwifery programs, which must include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following:

(a) Clinical and classroom instruction in all aspects of prenatal, intrapartal, and postpartal care, including all of the following:

1. Obstetrics.
2. Neonatal pediatrics.
3. Basic sciences.
4. Female reproductive anatomy and physiology.
5. Behavioral sciences.
6. Childbirth education.
7. Community care.
8. Epidemiology.
9. Genetics.
10. Embryology.
11. Neonatology.
12. Applied pharmacology.
13. The medical and legal aspects of midwifery.
14. Gynecology and women’s health.
15. Family planning.
16. Nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
17. Breastfeeding.
18. Basic nursing skills.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 467.009

  • Approved midwifery program: means a midwifery training program approved by the department pursuant to…. See Florida Statutes 467.003
  • Department: means the Department of Health. See Florida Statutes 467.003
  • Intrapartal: means occurring during the process of giving birth. See Florida Statutes 467.003
  • Midwifery: means the practice of supervising the conduct of a normal labor and childbirth, with the informed consent of the parent; the practice of advising the parents as to the progress of the childbirth; and the practice of rendering prenatal and postpartal care. See Florida Statutes 467.003
  • Preceptor: means a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a midwife licensed under this chapter, or a certified nurse midwife licensed under chapter 464 who has a minimum of 3 years' professional experience and who directs, teaches, supervises, and evaluates the learning experiences of a student midwife as part of an approved midwifery program. See Florida Statutes 467.003
(b) Core competencies, incorporating those established by the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Midwives Alliance of North America, including knowledge, skills, and professional behavior in all of the following areas:

1. Primary management, collaborative management, referral, and medical consultation.
2. Antepartal, intrapartal, postpartal, and neonatal care.
3. Family planning and gynecological care.
4. Common complications.
5. Professional responsibilities.
(c) Noncurricular matters under this section, including, but not limited to, staffing and teacher qualifications.
(2) An accredited and approved midwifery program must offer a course of study for a minimum of 3 years which incorporates all of the standards, curriculum guidelines, and educational objectives provided in this section and the rules adopted hereunder.
(3) An accredited and approved midwifery program may reduce the required period of training to the extent of the student’s qualifications as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse or based on prior completion of equivalent nursing or midwifery education, as determined by department rule.
(4) An accredited and approved midwifery program may accept students who have both:

(a) A high school diploma or its equivalent.
(b) Taken three college-level credits each of math and English or demonstrated competencies in communication and computation.
(5) As part of its course of study, an accredited and approved midwifery program must require clinical training that includes all of the following:

(a) The care of 50 women in each of the prenatal, intrapartal, and postpartal periods under the supervision of a preceptor. The same women need not be seen through all three periods.
(b) Observation of an additional 25 women in the intrapartal period.
(6) Clinical training required under this section must include all of the following:

(a) Training in hospitals or alternative birth settings, or both.
(b) A requirement that students demonstrate competency in the assessment of and differentiation between low-risk pregnancies and high-risk pregnancies.
(7) A hospital or birthing center receiving public funds shall be required to provide student midwives access to observe labor, delivery, and postpartal procedures, provided the woman in labor has given informed consent. The Department of Health shall assist in facilitating access to hospital training for accredited and approved midwifery programs.
(8) The Department of Education shall adopt curricular frameworks for midwifery programs offered by public educational institutions under this section.
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