Abortion education in nurse practitioner, physician assistant and certified nurse–midwifery programs: a national survey

ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to examine the inclusion and extent of abortion education in accredited nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA) and certified nurse–midwifery (CNM) programs in the United States.MethodsIn January 2000, a confidential survey requesting information about the curricular inclusion of eight reproductive health topics was mailed to program directors at all 486 accredited NP, PA and CNM programs in the United States.ResultsTwo hundred two surveys were returned, with a response rate of 42%. Overall, 53% of programs reported didactic instruction on surgical abortion, manual vacuum aspiration or medication abortion and 21% reported including at least one of these three procedures in their routine clinical curriculum.ConclusionAbortion education is deficient in NP, PA and CNM programs in the United States. As integral components of women's health care, abortion, pregnancy options counseling and family planning merit incorporation into routine didactic and clinical education.