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The Merger and the “Birth” of the American College of Nurse‐Midwives

1969; Wiley; Volume: 14; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1542-2011.1969.tb00238.x

2376-8460

Phyllis C. Leppert,

American Constitutional Law and Politics

The first nurse-midwifery service in the United States was founded, in 1925, by Mary Breckenridge in Kentucky—The Frontier Nursing Service. In 1929, the nurse-midwives there formed the American Association of Nurse-Midwives. It was not until 1932 that the first school for nurse-midwives, the Maternity Center. Association's School, was started in New York City. Both of these pioneer programs instructed and inspired many of the nurse-midwives who work in all 50 states, as well as in foreign countries. In 1955, the nurse-midwives then felt a need to have a professional organization which would promote the development and utilization of nurse-midwives in this country and set qualifications and standards for nurse-midwifery practice. Accordingly, the American College of Nurse-Midwifery was incorporated in New Mexico, November 7, 1955. Now this year the two organizations, the American Association of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Nurse-Midwifery have joined to form the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The founding date—1929—of the Association has been added to the seal to represent the fact that nurse-midwives in the United States have been organized for 40 years—1929–1969. The celebration of the merger was held April 17, at a dinner in Baltimore, Maryland. Miss Helen Browne, Director of the Frontier Nursing Service, and a newly elected Member at Large gave the Keynote address, and Miss Rose McNaught, the first instructor at Maternity Center Association spoke of some of her early experiences; as did Agnes Shoemaker Reinders, the Second President of the College. The three speakers helped us to see that the early pioneers of our profession were dedicated to the welfare of their patients. As we enter the next phase of our profession—that of consolidation of ideas, expansion of horizons, development and utilization of the nurse-midwife for all segments of our society—I know we will hold onto that spirit of concern for our patients. The next 40 years of nurse-midwifery organization will be challenging, demanding and, at times, frustrating. We will try new ways of delivering our services—some creative, some traditional; some will be blind alleys, others the road for the future. The New American College of Nurse-Midwives has as its first objective: “To enable nurse-midwives to concentrate their efforts in the improvement of services for mothers and newborn babies, in cooperation with other allied groups.” I believe that the merged organization will have a productive life if we keep this objective foremost. This implies that we have much work to do and must do it soon! It implies that we must show, by our actions, that we stand for something of value.