Factors that predict performance on the national certification examination for nurse-midwives

Development and outcomes of the multiple-choice format national certification examination in nurse-midwifery and midwifery

“…Assessment of the possibility of such bias (termed adverse impact) is a quality assurance measurement standard. Aggregate data from the first five multiple‐choice format examinations were computed and compared with the aggregate data derived from the criterion‐referenced essay format forms (11).…”

Cultural competence in the care of abused women

“…Currently, ethnic minorities comprise approximately 25% of the total U.S. population (6); yet, they are severely underrepresented in most health occupations, with nursing no exception. Nearly 80% of nurse-midwives who took the initial certification examination between 1988 and 1994 were white non-Hispanics (6).…”

“…Currently, ethnic minorities comprise approximately 25% of the total U.S. population (6); yet, they are severely underrepresented in most health occupations, with nursing no exception. Nearly 80% of nurse-midwives who took the initial certification examination between 1988 and 1994 were white non-Hispanics (6). The recruitment, retention, and graduation of increasing numbers of minorities in the health care professions, in general, and in nursing and its subspecialities, in particular, is central in developing cultural competence in the provision of health care and midwifery services.…”

Criteria for accreditation of direct-entry midwifery education

“…Graduates of both kinds of programs are expected to achieve the same ACNM core competences. Although education is good and more is usually better, there is no evidence that CNMs with degrees are safer or more effective mid‐wives than those prepared through certificate programs. Fullerton and Severino's recent study of factors associated with higher scores on the national certification examination found that graduates of certificate nurse‐midwifery education programs had a higher average score on the test than graduates of master's degree programs (9). In addition, the National Survey of Factors Contributing To and Hindering the Successful Practice of Nurse‐Midwifery, which was conducted by the ACNM Foundation in 1985, found no association between type of nurse‐midwifery education and the level of professional success reported by individual nurse‐midwives (10).…”