After delivering her second child, Meghan Worley-Morse found herself at a crossroads. The pediatric ICU nurse who had spent years caring for critically ill children was experiencing a professional awakening—one that would lead her on a journey to reshape how women's healthcare is delivered.
"I had two wonderful experiences with my pregnancies and the birth of my children with nurse-midwives," Worley-Morse reflects. "I felt strongly this would be a good fit for me as I looked into earning a graduate degree."
What began as personal gratitude has blossomed into a mission. After graduating from the University of Colorado College of Nursing's midwifery program in December, Worley-Morse immediately enrolled in their Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate program—a decision that reveals her relentless drive to expand her impact.
"The more providers we have who can be placed in these types of roles, addressing these topics in a holistic approach, and the more access people have to this information, is an opportunity for patients to optimize their health," she explains.
Beyond Birth: Reimagining Midwifery
In a healthcare landscape often fragmented by specialization, Worley-Morse envisions a more cohesive approach. Her clinical rotations—spanning from a transformative immersion experience in Guatemala to a Boulder clinic focused on gender-affirming care for young adults—have shaped her philosophy of care.
Meghan Worley-Morse during her clinical immersion experience in Guatemala. |
"All of the experiences I had were exciting and inspiring," she says. "Midwifery clinicals are very pregnancy and post-partum focused, and my women's health clinicals let me expand into other areas where I wanted to learn more."
This breadth of experience has crystallized her vision: midwifery not merely as birth assistance but as a cornerstone of women's lifelong health.
"I want to approach my practice with an open mindset that helps people tie pregnancy, birth, and reproductive health to their overall health," Worley-Morse says. "I think midwifery has an opportunity to assess things about your health and family dynamics that could change or optimize things for your children, yourself, and your family."
The Whole Woman
For Worley-Morse, the traditional scope of midwifery presents an opportunity to expand into a more comprehensive approach to women's healthcare. Her ambition extends beyond the delivery room to encompass women's entire health journeys.
"This is something that can be a touchpoint for women," she says. "Women might visit a midwife or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner for a breast exam or other women’s health needs, but they may not have a primary care provider. This is an opportunity for myself or other midwives who want to encourage or educate them about seeing a primary care provider so they can focus on their whole health.”
"I want to help patients access the healthcare system and have positive experiences so they can have a comprehensive health plan,” she adds.
This vision comes at a critical time. As maternal mortality rates in America continue to exceed those of other developed nations, Worley-Morse's dedication to addressing these disparities through holistic care represents a vital approach to a national crisis.
A Legacy of Learning
As Denver's diverse communities await the arrival of this newly-minted midwife to their clinics, Worley-Morse is already considering her broader impact—including on her children, who watched her graduation ceremony with wide eyes.
"It was great for my children to see me graduate in December—they saw that I could change my career a bit, go back to school, learn, and grow. I feel really good about setting that example for my kids," she says.
Her message to other nurses contemplating a similar path carries both encouragement and candor: "I think we need more providers who are interested in midwifery, women's health, and reproductive health," she urges. "If you're passionate or interested in these topics, do it. Be prepared to change your life and see the change as an opportunity for growth."
In a profession dedicated to bringing new life into the world, Worley-Morse has found something equally profound—a rebirth of her career, focused on caring for women not just in their most vulnerable moments, but throughout their lives.
