WHNP and NM/WHNP Program Vision, Mission and Philosophy Statements

Vision

Georgetown University’s Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP Programs will produce transformative leaders who are committed to the promotion of health equity and the well-being of individuals, families, and communities throughout the world.

Mission

The mission of Georgetown University’s Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP Programs is to prepare WHNPs and midwives to be excellent health care providers and advocates. Our program develops clinical leaders in a safe, inclusive, supportive, and affirming hybrid learning environment. We are committed to the pursuit of social justice, excellence, innovation, and accountability in teaching, practice, scholarship, and research.

Philosophy

We, the Faculty of the Georgetown University School of Nursing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) & Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP Programs, affirm the mission and vision of Georgetown University and its School of Nursing. We affirm the Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) Guidelines for Practice and Education and the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Core Competencies. We affirm the ACNM Truth and Reconciliation Resolution and NPWH Position Statement on Structural Racism and Implicit Bias in Women’s Healthcare that acknowledge past harms of our professions and current and ongoing commitment to justice.

We recognize WHNPs and midwives care for individuals, families, and communities. We embrace cura personalis, or “care for the whole person.”

We believe health care is a universal right, not a privilege, and that access to high-quality health care promotes the well- being of individuals, families, and communities. We affirm that no individuals or communities should experience discrimination or barriers to accessing excellent healthcare due to their race, ethnicity, sex, gender, size, sexual orientation, immigration status, language, socioeconomic status, location, ability, or any other characteristic. Health care should promote health equity and address health disparities in a respectful and inclusive way to support human flourishing. Health care must be characterized by shared decision-making and respect for self-determination recognizing each person as the expert in their own health and well-being.

We believe WHNPs and midwives must engage in self-reflection of their beliefs, attitudes, biases, practices, and abilities. This includes active participation to unlearn racist or discriminatory thoughts and behaviors, reduce health disparities, address social determinants of health, and promote health equity. We believe learning is best achieved in a respectful environment in which students and educators engage with the diversity of our community, have meaningful discussions, and explore the world around them.

We affirm the importance of the critical evaluation of emerging evidence to update clinical practice. WHNPs and midwives continually update our clinical practice through integration of emerging evidence, and engaging with the communities we serve to better understand and meet their needs.

We affirm our responsibility to identify, address, and atone for the existence of racism and other forms of oppression within our institution and educational environment. We share a collective responsibility to serve as role models and mentors. We offer support and encouragement to enable our students to become excellent clinical scholars and effective healthcare leaders who advocate for positive change at the clinical, community, institutional, and systemic levels. We expect all members of the learning community to critically engage, reflect on complex questions and problem solve. We are committed to engaging in leadership and scholarship, advancing research, and elevating advanced practice nursing and midwifery.