From the moment you meet midwife Catherine O’Brien, DNP, CNM, you’ll notice her enthusiasm for patient care.
Having been a nurse for over 30 years has not deterred her from continuing to progress in her nursing knowledge and skills, first with achieving a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery, and then continuing on to get her Doctor of Nurse Practice – education that she feels is important to provide the best care possible for her patients.
When O’Brien – who was living in Spokane Valley, Wash. – learned about the opportunity at the Good Shepherd Women’s Center it was the opportunity that she had been waiting for.
“My desire has always been to serve the women living in a rural community,” she said. “Giving them the same access to care and services that they would be able to receive in a more urban setting really brings me joy. Oftentimes women are surprised and elated to hear that there are midwives available in smaller communities. I want to bring that same joy here to the women served by Good Shepherd Health Care System’s (GSHCS) Family Birth Center and the Good Shepherd Women’s Center (GSWC).”
With the arrival of O’Brien, that makes two midwives available at GSWC – Kelli Stephenson who joined the practice in April 2018 and O’Brien who arrived this month – both of whom attended Frontier Nursing University to be trained as midwives. According to O’Brien, the fact both midwives were also trained at the same university was a determining factor.
As for what a certified nurse-midwife does, they are able to care for women of all ages throughout their lives. They focus on gynecological and family planning services, which include; preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care. They also provide women with annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering nutrition counseling.
Since joining the GSWC, O’Brien has already had her first delivery and looks forward to many more.
“I work alongside the women who seek my care to provide them with the labor experience that they plan,” she said. “I want our time together to be joyful and memorable and I work toward that end. I am part of her team to provide guidance, support, and to encourage – after all, giving birth is supposed to be a natural experience.”
In regards to the GSWC, O’Brien is excited to work with such an experienced group of women’s practitioners, Dr. Diana Edenfield, Dr. Leila Keeler, Dr. Allison Khavkin, Angie Hays, ARNP, and Kelli Stephenson, CNM.
“I’m looking forward to working with this team of professionals who all want what’s best for the women we care for,” she said. “I look forward to working collaboratively in caring for the women in the community served by the GSHCS Family Birth Center.”
O’Brien is welcoming new patients to the Good Shepherd Women’s Center located at the Good Shepherd Medical Plaza at 620 NW 11th St. in Hermiston. To schedule an appointment call 541-667-3801 or if you are an established patient you may request an appointment through your MyHealth Patient Portal or app.
