ESHRE assembled the Nurses and Midwives Certification Committee in 2012 to develop a certification programme for nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine, replicating the format of the embryologist certification programme, which included a logbook and theoretical exam (1).
Identifying a starting point for developing this certification programme was challenging as global clinical practice guidelines specifically for nursing/midwifery within reproductive medicine were lacking.
Therefore, the Nurses and Midwives Certification Committee decided to gather background information by implementing a mixed method approach which involved reviewing the literature on the specific tasks of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine, consulting and surveying an expert panel of international senior nurses and midwives, and surveying Belgian and Dutch nurses and midwives working in different clinics (2).
The literature review, which included a total of 36 papers spanning 13 countries across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America, showed that the tasks of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine differed between and within countries. Whereas nurses (and midwives) in the UK independently performed advanced procedures such as oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer, nurses in Australia and New Zealand mainly focused on providing patient information and support during (telephone) consultations (3). A total of five studies, each conducted within one country (New Zealand, the UK, the USA), showed that the tasks of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine ranged from technical skills (i.e. performing IUI) to broader skills (i.e. counselling) (4-8).
The international expert panel included nine senior nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine representing the following countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. The panel was asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in discussions in relation to the ESHRE nurses and midwives certification programme. The questionnaire addressed: the respondentโs background, the educational background of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine in their country, whether nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine in their country had no role, an assisting role (i.e., they assist a colleague performing the task), or a performing role (either independently or under supervision) in a subset of tasks identified by the systematic literature review, and additional tasks in which nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine participate (9).
The Belgian-Dutch survey included 48 nurses and midwives working in four Belgian and nine Dutch reproductive medicine clinics. The questionnaire addressed: the respondentโs background, their role (assisting, performing or no role) in several tasks identified by the systematic literature review, and their educational needs and interests.
The background information gathered via the literature review, the international expert panel, and the survey of Belgian and Dutch nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine informed the development of the logbook, curriculum, and the pre-requisites for, and aims of, the ESHRE Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme.
The logbook
The tasks of the logbook can be sub-divided into eight categories, including: (i) diagnostic consults, (ii) information consults, (iii) treatment consults, (iv) diagnostic interventions, (v) therapeutic interventions, (vi) laboratory procedures, (vii) in-treatment (telephone) patient communication, and (viii) psychosocial support. The original 2015 logbook encompassed 56 tasks but it was reviewed annually and the advanced role of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine is now reflected by 73 tasks in the 2024 version of the logbook.
The curriculum
A curriculum and reading list which matched the tasks of nurses and midwives working in reproductive medicine was developed and an assignment to reflect on an ethical case was added.
To support applicants in preparing for the certification exam, the Nurses and Midwives Certification Committee developed an ESHRE campus course, and a โstudy buddyโ, linking the curriculum and reading list, whilst referring to relevant recordings on the eCAMPUS platform, where available.
The structured and well-considered development of the logbook, curriculum, and the pre-requisites for, and aims of, the ESHRE Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme ensure the programme can fulfil its role in setting the highest professional standards in fertility care, and supporting nurses and midwives to deliver top-quality healthcare. To date, 200 nurses and midwives from across Europe and beyond have obtained ESHRE Nurses and Midwives Certification, with the hope that many more will join this distinguished group.
For those interested in applying, the requirements for certification are ESHRE membership, a minimum of two yearsโ experience in medically assisted reproduction (MAR), and a bachelorโs degree (minimum). To achieve certification, nurses and midwives are required to show evidence of their engagement in clinical practice by completing a logbook and submitting an ethical case. In addition, they need to pass a theoretical online exam.
The next exam for nurses and midwives is scheduled for mid-October 2025. More information can be found on the ESHRE website: https://www.eshre.eu/Accreditation-and-Certification/Nurses-Midwives-Certification
References
- Kovaฤiฤ B, Prados FJ, Plas C, Woodward BJ, Verheyen G, Ramos L, Mรคkinen S, Apter SJ, Vidal F, Ziebe S et al. ESHRE Clinical Embryologist certification: the first 10 years. Hum Reprod Open 2020;3:1-15.
- Somers S, Cotton H, Kendrew H, Pomper J, Pinborg A, Jorgensen IR, Plas C, Hanenberg EH, Peddie VL, Dancet EAF. Empowering nurses and midwives: the evidence-base for the Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme of ESHRE.ย Hum Reprod 2024;39:2171โ2188.ย https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deae175
- Allan HT, De Lacey S, Payne D. The shaping of organisational routines and the distal patient in assisted reproductive technologies. Nurs Inq 2009;16:241-250.
- Mitchell A, Mittelstaedt ME, Wagner C. A survey of nurses who practice in infertility settings. JOGNN 2005;34:561-568.
- Morris EJ. The role of infertility nurses in ovulation induction programmes. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2001;4:14-17.
- Oshio S, Johnson P, Fullerton J. The 1999โ2000 task analysis of American Nurse-Midwifery/Midwifery Practice. J Midwifery Womens Health 2002;47:35-41.
- Payne D, Goedeke S. Holding together: caring for clients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. J Adv Nurs 2007;60:645-653.
- Peddie VL, Denton J, Barnett V. Toward developing a training pathway for fertility nurses: report of the 2010 training and educational survey. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2011;14:167-178.
- Dancet E, De Vries T, DโHooghe T. (2017, June). The role of midwives in European fertility clinics. Poster presented at the triennial congress of the International Confederation of Midwives, Toronto, Canada.
You have to be logged in and an ESHRE member in order to comment.