According to the American Midwifery Certification Board, fewer than 70 certified nurse midwives are available in Nevada for obstetric and gynecological care. 

In just a few short weeks, two more will be added to that list, addressing the need for maternal care in the state. They are the first graduates of UNLV School of Nursing’s midwifery program, which launched in fall 2023 as part of the Master of Science in Nursing. The program is the first in Nevada to offer the unique opportunity to become a certified nurse-midwife. 

Sara Richins: Following the Research

Sara Richins was inspired by her own birthing experiences to obtain the degree. Her best experience was with midwives, she said. She researched maternal health and maternal mortality rates in America compared to other countries and found a common factor in births outside of the country: midwives.

“Postpartum care is much more than one or two visits, as it is in America,” Richins said. “Midwives cared for the majority of European pregnant people, offered low-intervention births, and believed in the power of birth. I wanted to be part of the change in America. I wanted to empower women to have the births they wanted while providing safe prenatal care.”

Before being accepted, Richins met the program’s director, associate professor Kate Woeber. She moved her family from Washington to Nevada because she felt Woeber was creating a highly supportive learning environment..When starting this program, Woeber’s priorities were clear: build Nevada’s midwifery workforce and foster a community of students and midwives. With limited access to midwives in the state to precept students in a clinical setting, Woeber said they were able to focus on providing a high-quality program. 

“UNLV has recruited a great team of faculty, and our small group of students is a tight community that supports each other far beyond the classroom,” she said. “Our program combines some of the best traditions of midwifery with cutting-edge information, resources, and opportunities.” 

Richins said the bedside experiences she gained through the program were especially impactful.

“Becoming a certified nurse midwife is not about the money," she said. "It’s about patient care and providing and empowering people to do something challenging and amazing. Becoming a certified nurse midwife isn’t just about prenatal care or 'catching babies'; it’s about providing care to everyone within our scope.”

Rachel Matthews: Connecting to the Community

For Rachel Matthews, there were three important moments that made it clear to her that she wanted to become a nurse and work with the maternal population. The first was in high school, when she caught a glimpse of what it was like to be hands-on and on the front lines of healthcare, shadowing a nurse on the labor and delivery unit. She felt inspired by the challenge of nursing. The second was during her clinical rotations, again in the labor and delivery unit, during nursing school at Brigham Young University.  The third was when she shadowed a certified nurse midwife and knew midwifery was the goal.

“There was nothing else that could compare to caring for and empowering patients and families during such pivotal times,” she said. 

Matthews was planning to enroll in another certified nurse midwifery program out of state when UNLV announced it would launch its midwifery-focused graduate program — which meant she could stay and study locally.

"This was so very important to me as I wanted to understand the needs of the local community and practice here," she said.

“We have such a special opportunity to increase access to obstetric and gynecological healthcare in an amazing city that needs more providers. I feel so fortunate to have been taught and trained by my amazing professors and preceptors, and I can’t wait to serve patients in the community using all I have learned.”

Both Richins and Matthews have committed to continuing to grow the midwifery workforce by being preceptors to future UNLV midwifery students themselves. 

“We want our students to not only be excellent providers, but also to be active participants and leaders within perinatal teams and systems,” Woeber said. “Ultimately, our students will enhance the quality of care in the state by being part of care that is evidence-based, respectful and compassionate, and empowering for all patients.”