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The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influenced nurses to choose midwifery as a career path. Forty-two application essays to the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing were reviewed. Content analysis was used to identify themes and to explore motivational factors. Six themes concerning motivation to become a midwife were identified. These included personal birth experience, love of maternity nursing, seeing midwifery as a calling, encouragement from others (especially midwives), an epiphany moment, and using nursing as a stepping stone to midwifery. The six themes were seen in more than 20% of the application essays. Several potential recruitment strategies stem from these themes, especially the importance of nurse-midwives' encouragement of others to pursue a midwifery career.

The purpose of this article was to examine the professional affective socialization of midwifery students. Students from the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) tell about their first births in their Lost My Hat stories posted on the electronic bulletin board of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. Qualitative analysis of 38 of these stories showed internalization of the values and beliefs of the midwifery model of care by students. Themes of the Lost My Hat stories were congruent with some of the aspects of the Model of Exemplary Midwifery Practice developed by Kennedy. Major themes included the circle of safety provided by the preceptor and a woman-centered approach to care. These findings can help midwifery educators promote socialization of students in the profession.

The purpose of this article was to examine the professional affective socialization of midwifery students. Students from the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) tell about their first births in their Lost My Hat stories posted on the electronic bulletin board of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. Qualitative analysis of 38 of these stories showed internalization of the values and beliefs of the midwifery model of care by students. Themes of the Lost My Hat stories were congruent with some of the aspects of the Model of Exemplary Midwifery Practice developed by Kennedy. Major themes included the circle of safety provided by the preceptor and a woman-centered approach to care. These findings can help midwifery educators promote socialization of students in the profession.

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