Genealogic origins of nurse-midwifery education programs in the United States

Abstract

This article presents a genealogy of all known basic and refresher nurse-midwifery education programs enabling every CNM and CM to track their individual lineage back to Hattie Hemschemeyer or Mary Breckinridge. Feeling connected to our founding foremothers increases our understanding of who we are and what our commitment is to the families we serve. Genealogy also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the early history and continuing historical trends of our education programs.