The Midwifery Program

This is a four-year Undergraduate Programme which will lead to the degree Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. An-Najah National University is initiating a programme to prepare midwives who will serve the people of the West Bank and the North Area by raising the standards of mother and child health care. The Midwifery Philosophy is congruent with the tenets of the philosophy of the College of Nursing. The professional nursing paradigm (clients, health, environment and nursing) serves as the College’s Conceptual Framework, which is consistent with key concepts of the Midwifery Philosophy. The clients of midwives are child-bearing families and women of all ages. Perceived by the client and as compared to the larger population, health is considered to be a state of normalcy. The nursing component of midwifery lies in the practitioners' beliefs concerning holism, the intrinsic worth of people and people's right to self-determination. These beliefs are essential and direct midwifery care management. This programme will provide midwives with a new and up-to-date knowledge and it will offer the Palestinian society a sufficient number of qualified professional midwives.

Purpose

The purpose of the Midwifery Programme is to prepare advanced practice midwives in the art and science of Midwifery. These are:

1. To prepare the student in an advanced midwifery practice role to meet the health care needs of society in effective, efficient, innovative and creative ways across a variety of settings.
2. To provide the midwifery student with a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge base for life-long learning and professional development.
3. To train midwives to serve Palestinian communities and to raise the standards of Maternal and Child Health by preparing qualified midwife practitioners.
4. The Programme is designed to prepare the graduate to manage a woman’s normal obstetrical and gynecological needs during the childbearing years, to manage the care of the normal newborn and to provide primary care to women throughout their lifespan.

These purposes are accomplished through a curriculum that includes research, theory, clinical practice and scholarly learning. Graduates will be prepared to practice midwifery according to the Core Competencies, the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics. This goal is also achieved through the application of the Midwifery Management Process which utilises an organised body of knowledge and skills drawn from nursing, medicine, public health and other related health fields. Continuity of care, which has as its purpose the development of meaningful and sustained client/provider relationships, is central to the Midwife’s care. Childbirth is a normal human experience. Its benefit to the family may be enhanced when appropriate guidance and education of expectant parents concerning pregnancy, birth, and parenthood are provided.

Criteria for Admission to the Midwifery Program

• Tawjihi 75% or above.

• Completed secondary scientific education.

• Satisfactory outcome of a personal face-to-face interview that evaluates the candidate's background and suitability for a midwifery specialty.

• Proficient knowledge of English.