Mission, Values, Philosophy, and Outcomes

Bethel University's M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery program, as well as Bethel's Nursing Department, have a strong mission, set of values, goals, and outcomes that we follow to ensure that our nurse-midwives graduate with the integrity and skills they need to advance the profession.

Mission Statement

The mission of Bethel Nursing is to provide transformative academics in nursing education, leadership, practice, and scholarship that reflect the values of a Christ-centered community as we prepare nurses to serve, with excellence, a diverse and changing society.

Nursing Department Values

We value the perspectives of a Christian worldview that emphasize caring, service, integrity, the pursuit of excellence, and the inherent worth of all life.

We value the liberal arts as the scholarly foundation for nursing education and practice.

We value education that is evidence-based, relational, active, holistic, and promotes clinical judgement and lifelong learning.

We value nursing as a collaborative profession that fulfills multiple roles and requires a unique and expanding body of knowledge and skills to promote the health and safety of diverse individuals, families, communities, and systems.

We value nursing leadership that influences the quality of healthcare for all, respecting the uniqueness of individuals, with an emphasis on vulnerable and underserved populations.

Additional Values of the Nurse-Midwifery Program

In addition to the Nursing Department Values listed above:

We value that every person has a right to be an active participant in their healthcare and be provided with accurate information to self-determine the best choices for themselves and their families.

We value a model of healthcare that includes the therapeutic use of human presence and communication, a full partnership that honors the woman and her individual experiences and knowledge, and one that is based on the best evidence available.

We value diversity in the midwifery profession as being a catalyst for culturally congruent care for all families.

We value the normalcy of women’s lifecycle events and believe that midwifery care balances watchful waiting and non-intervention with appropriate intervention, consultation, collaboration, and referral with other members of the healthcare team to provide optimal care.

We value formal education, lifelong learning, professional development, and research to guide midwifery practice and the development of the profession of midwifery and the education of midwives.