Our Next Hands-On Scanning Event

Heart of Iowa Midwifery & Birth

2485 SE 1st St, West Des Moines, IA 50265

August 28-29th, 2026

This event offers up to 25.5 AANP CE credits, 26 ACNM CEUs, and 26.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.

Tickets on sale now at the bottom of this page (3 tickets remain)

Two logos side by side; the left circular logo reads 'Accredited by AANP' surrounded by 'American Association of Nurse Practitioners'; the right blue square logo features stylized figures representing a nurse and patients, with the text 'American College of Nurse-Midwives' and the slogan 'With women, for a lifetime'.
PA AAPA Category 1 CME badge with blue background and white text
A woman lying on a hospital bed during an ultrasound exam, with a medical professional standing beside her holding a transducer, and an ultrasound monitor displaying a fetus. The room has medical equipment and informational posters on the wall.
A woman performing an ultrasound on a pregnant patient in a medical room with medical supplies, a laptop, and family members observing.
Five women standing together in a hospital corridor, smiling, with name tags and certificates, in front of a door labeled 'Exam Room' and a sign for ultrasound services.
A healthcare professional showing an ultrasound image on a laptop to a patient lying on a hospital bed, with medical information posters on the wall.
Medical professionals performing an ultrasound on a patient lying on a medical bed in a dark room, with ultrasound imaging displayed on a monitor.
A woman in a brown shirt and blue gloves holding a smartphone and taking a picture of an ultrasound on a computer screen in a medical office, with a woman lying down nearby.
People participating in a medical or cosmetic procedure, with a woman lying on a chair and others around her, in a medical room with monitors and medical supplies.
A woman with blonde hair tied back, wearing glasses and a dark sweater, is looking at an ultrasound image on a laptop. She is seated at a table with bottles of sanitizer in front of her. The background features a curtain with a colorful geometric pat
Four women standing together indoors near a large window with a cityscape view. They are smiling and wearing casual clothing, with name tags on their shirts.
Six women gathered around a medical ultrasound machine in a dimly lit room, observing an ultrasound scan on the monitor.
Group of five women standing indoors in front of large window with city view, smiling at the camera, wearing casual and medical attire, including scrubs and t-shirts.
A woman using an ultrasound machine during a fetal ultrasound exam with a man lying on the examination table, and two other women observing, in a room with artwork on the walls.
Five women standing together indoors in front of a large window. They are smiling and have name tags on. The background shows a cityscape with buildings and a partly cloudy sky.
A healthcare professional standing next to a patient lying on a medical examination table, using an ultrasound device on the patient's leg. The room has medical supplies, framed artwork, and informational posters on the walls.
Women participating in a medical or therapeutic procedure involving ultrasound on a patient's leg, with medical supplies and artwork on the wall.
Healthcare workers performing an ultrasound exam on a patient lying in a hospital bed, with medical supplies and informational posters on the wall.
People gathered around a table with an ultrasound monitor showing an image, in a room with informational posters and a window made of glass blocks.
Medical professionals perform an ultrasound on a patient during a pregnancy checkup in a clinical setting.
Four women standing behind a table with an ultrasound banner at a healthcare event, each holding a framed certificate, in a room with dark wood cabinets and light gray walls.
Group of medical professionals performing an ultrasound procedure in a clinic room with ultrasound equipment and monitors.
Medical professional performing a procedure on a patient in a hospital room, with medical supplies and equipment nearby.
Medical professionals performing an ultrasound procedure on a pregnant woman in a clinical setting with ultrasound images displayed on the wall.
Two women performing an ultrasound on a pregnant woman lying on an examination table.
Group of five women smiling for a photo indoors, with a large window showing a cityscape and mountains in the background.
Medical professionals performing an ultrasound on a pregnant patient in a clinical setting with informational posters on the wall.
A group of women are gathered around an ultrasound machine in a dark room, observing the monitor.
Five women standing indoors in front of large windows with a city view, smiling at the camera. They are wearing name tags and casual clothing.
A healthcare professional performs an ultrasound on a patient's arm while another woman observes, in a medical setting with informational posters on the wall.
A woman lying on a medical bed in a hospital room, interacting with healthcare workers, with signs on the wall about healthcare and inclusive messages.
Group of five women standing together indoors, smiling, with a large window showing a distant mountain range and blue sky behind them.

Continuing Education Credits

This event offers CE credits for a wide range of women’s health providers.

26 ACNM CEUs
25.5 AANP CE credits
26.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits

Workshop Schedule

Hands-On Scanning Days

Location
Heart of Iowa Midwifery & Birth
2485 SE 1st St, West Des Moines, IA 50265

August 28-29th, 2026

Arrival
Please plan to arrive around 7:45 am so the group is ready to begin at 8:00 am.

Day 1 | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

8:00 to 9:00 am
Simulation experience
How to handle the transducer
Recognition of anatomical structures
Cross sectional anatomy

9:00 to 10:30 am
Gynecologic scanning
Two patients
Focus on normal anatomy
IUD localization if available

10:30 am to 12:00 pm
First trimester scanning
Two patients
Gestations ranging from 6 to 12 weeks

12:00 to 1:00 pm
Lunch provided
Informal session introducing the Midwife Certification Exam

1:15 to 3:30 pm
Second and third trimester scanning
Three patients
Gestational age measurements
Appropriate anatomical review
Amniotic fluid volume
Cervical length
Placental location

3:30 to 5:00 pm
Biophysical profile
Two patients
Discussion of BPP criteria
Fetal presentation
Amniotic fluid volume
Placental location

5:00 to 5:15 pm
Completion of evaluations

Day 2 | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

8:00 to 9:00 am
Gynecologic scanning
One patient
Focus on normal anatomy
IUD localization if available

9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Continuation of gynecologic and first trimester scanning
Varies based on volunteers

12:00 to 1:00 pm
Lunch provided

1:15 to 5:00 pm
Second trimester
Third trimester
Biophysical profile
Cervical length
Placental location
Fetal presentation
AFV measurement

5:00 to 5:15 pm
Completion of evaluations and awarding certificates of completion

Important Notes About Scheduling

Volunteer availability can vary. While we make every effort to match trimester preferences, exact matches are not always possible. Our instructors are prepared with alternative teaching options and adjust the schedule as needed to ensure a complete learning experience.

Days are long and learning intensive. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring snacks and water as desired. If you need to step out briefly during instruction, you’re welcome to do so and return when ready.

Printing slides from the online course can be helpful. Students often bring them for notes.

Can I travel with a friend or colleague?

Yes. Many participants choose to travel with colleagues. You may request to be grouped together when completing the registration form.

We accommodate requests on a first come, first served basis. Groups of four fit perfectly, and larger groups can be divided across multiple instructors as long as tickets are available.

What if I already have the online course?

If you already purchased the online course:

  1. First purchase your ticket for the hands-on event

  2. You will automatically receive the registration form in your email

  3. After completing the registration form, send Casey your online course receipt

  4. We will process a refund for the amount you paid for the online course

You MUST complete the online course before attending your hands-on scanning days.

This event is designed for women’s health providers including:

• Certified Nurse Midwives
• Certified Midwives
• Certified Professional Midwives
• Licensed Midwives
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Associates

All skill levels are welcome. Instructors meet each group exactly where they are

More Questions?

If you have any questions after reading through this page, please reach out to Casey directly and she can answer anything more specific you need.
casey@ultrasoundforwomenshealthproviders.com

TESTIMONIALS

More Testimonials

  • "I’ve taken an US course before, but nothing like this one. The 2 days of doing US on person after person really helped everything from the online modules to “click.” I know so much more than I did going into the course. Highly recommend if you even might need to use US for something. I verified my IUD placement and looked for placenta previa (diagnosed elsewhere), which I did find. Before I wouldn’t have known where the cervix was in US. It was also nice only having 4 students per group because we all got plenty time to practice plus lots of instructor feedback. Another nice thing that I didn’t know when I signed up: if you paid for the course at any point, you can always contact them for pointers/help or to remotely monitor your US skills if you wanted to do the certification."

  • "I learned way more at the ultrasound for women's health providers than I expected. I used some of the skills I learned THE VERY NEXT DAY I WAS IN CLINIC! Very relevant and wonderful training. Would recommend to anyone."

  • "The two-day course really helped to consolidate my knowledge and gave us all a lot of hands-on experience with patients. Michelle and Gay were great instructors - very knowledgeable and equally supportive!"

  • "This two day event was intense but so valuable for hands on learning. The instructors were knowledgeable and gave practical tips for getting the best pictures. I’m so glad I was able to attend and fully expect it to enhance my clinical practice."

  • "Great course, inspiring instructors, small groups, individualized attention. If you're a midwife or women's health provider and want to add more confidence to your use of ultrasound in your practice, this is for you."

  • "I had a great experience with this class. Michelle is an excellent instructor. I was super tired from a hectic week and was dreading a long class on my weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised with what a joy the class was! I found the content to be super interesting in the online learning portion and really enjoyed putting it into practice with the hands-on learning. Michelle is inviting, easy to learn from, and made the day really fun! Highly recommend this class."

  • "Great course, inspiring instructors, small groups, individualized attention. If you're a midwife or women's health provider and want to add more confidence to your use of ultrasound in your practice, this is for you."

  • "This ultrasound course was amazing. I am a new nurse midwife, and I learned so much from this course. Carolyn Gegor is an incredible instructor. Casey Messmer was so helpful. Quick responses. Every women’s health provider should take this course. 10/10"

    Description goes here

  • "Ultrasound for Women's Health Providers is a great resource, especially if you do not have a local source for training. The online portion was easy to navigate. It is done in chapters so you can come back to it so you don't have to do it all at once. It was complete through all aspects of ultrasound in pregnancy & well woman check up. We also arranged to have a Hands on training and our instructor Nora was AMAZING. She was very kind and patient while we were learning new skills. She was very informative and we were able to get a lot of knowledge in, in 1 day. I highly recommend this course!"

    Description goes here

  • "This two day event was intense but so valuable for hands on learning. The instructors were knowledgeable and gave practical tips for getting the best pictures. I’m so glad I was able to attend and fully expect it to enhance my clinical practice."

  • "I learned so much at the hands -on clinic and had so many a-ha moments that clicked into place. I definitely need to perform a lot more scans to feel competent, but I feel like I walked away with the tools and understanding to get there with practice. Our instructor, Gay, is a lovely human being, and a wealth of knowledge."

    Description goes here

  • "The two-day course really helped to consolidate my knowledge and gave us all a lot of hands-on experience with patients. Michelle and Gay were great instructors - very knowledgeable and equally supportive!"

  • "The skills from today will greatly improve the quality of care I can quickly & efficiently provide fr women. Great one day hands-on course!"

  • "I attended an in person one day scanning event after having completed the online learning. I was in a group of 4 and we had access to a variety of patients during that 8 hour day. The facility was amazing and accommodating and the ultrasound machines were so intuitive and easy to use. The instructors were very knowledgeable and I came home with the confidence to get my ARDMS check offs done."

    Description goes here

Nona Smith, RDMS, MSN, CNM

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a black button-up shirt stands against a plain gray wall, smiling softly at the camera.

Nona Smith, RDMS, MSN, CNM, is an experienced Nurse Midwife, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, and a dedicated educator in the field of obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound. With a career spanning over three decades, Nona brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work with Ultrasound for Women’s Health Providers.

Nona earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master of Science in Nursing with a certificate in Nurse Midwifery from East Carolina University. She became a Registered Nurse in 1983, a Certified Nurse Midwife in 1999, and a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1993. Nona has held various roles, including clinical positions in hospitals and private practice, as well as leadership roles in Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health.

Throughout her career, Nona has had the opportunity to work across various states and settings, including as a Certified Nurse Midwife at Novant Health and as a Lead Nurse Midwife at Wake Forest Baptist Health. She has also been a clinical preceptor for programs at institutions such as Wake Forest University, East Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Nona is deeply passionate about both clinical practice and education. She has contributed to numerous professional organizations, including the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American College of Nurse Midwives, where she served as Vice President of the North Carolina Affiliate. She is a frequent lecturer and has published abstracts in well-known medical journals on topics related to fetal development and ultrasound.

Meet Our Other Instructors
Meet Our Other Instructors

WHAT THE INSTRUCTORS ARE SAYING:

TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 27th

Two-Day Ticket for Friday & Saturday August 28th & 29th in Des Moines, Iowa Two-Day Ticket for Friday & Saturday August 28th & 29th in Des Moines, Iowa
Two-Day Ticket for Friday & Saturday August 28th & 29th in Des Moines, Iowa
$2,500.00

This is a two-day hands-on scanning event scheduled for 8:00-5pm each day.

  • Please note that this is a hands-on course which means you will be working with real patients.

  • Each group will be limited to four participants, our course ensures personalized instruction and extensive practical experience

  • Registration payment is non-refundable. We have a limited amount of availability and want to keep classes as full as possible.

  • If you have already purchased the online course, we will refund the amount you paid for the course on Teachable.

You will receive an email with more information & registration paperwork with 48 business hours of purchase.