Become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner in 3 Steps

Nurse Types / Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

A women’s health nurse practitioner focuses on the healthcare needs of women. Nursing candidates interested in gynecological, obstetric, and reproductive health can pursue a career in this nursing specialty.

Women’s health nurse practitioners play an important role in providing essential healthcare to women of all ages. They can screen for sexually transmitted diseases or infections, reproductive cancers, and other health conditions.

This guide provides you with all the information you need to get started on your career as a women’s health nurse practitioner. In it we explore:

• What is a women’s health nurse practitioner?
• What do women’s health nurse practitioners do?
• Where do women’s health nurse practitioners work?
• What are specific types of women’s health nurse practitioners?
• How do you become a women’s health nurse practitioner in 3 steps?
• What are additional requirements of women’s health nurse practitioners?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for women’s health nurse practitioners?
• How can women’s health nurse practitioners advance their careers?
• FAQs

What is a women’s health nurse practitioner?

A women’s health nurse practitioner assesses, diagnoses, and treats women for gynecological, obstetric, and reproductive issues. This position has some similarities with that of Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).  One of the main differences between the two is that WHNPs do not direct as much time to fertility issues and newborn delivery as CNMs.

WHNPs focus on preventative care like annual exams, breast cancer screenings, and contraceptive care. They also handle pregnancy testing, fertility evaluations, prenatal and postnatal care, and menopausal care.

WHNPs specialized training qualifies them to work in the following settings:

• Obstetrics and gynecology physician offices
• Private doctor’s offices
• Infertility clinic
• Hospitals
• Birthing centers
• Breast care clinics
• Gynecological oncology units
• Specialty care clinics
• Urogynecology clinics and care centers
• Women’s wellness clinics

Qualities of a successful women’s health nurse practitioner

Like all nurses, women’s health nurse practitioners must have empathy for their patients. Nurses in this specialty often work with patients with fertility issues or other sensitive healthcare conditions that require confidentiality and tactfulness.

Other desirable qualities include:

• Competent multitasker. Women’s health nurse practitioners manage busy schedules with multiple patients. They must be able to carry out several tasks simultaneously.
• Solid interpersonal skills. Some people call these “people skills.” No matter how you refer to them, they involve working well with others in a team healthcare setting.
• Strong communicator. Women’s health nurse practitioners must explain complex health issues to patients in simple ways they can understand. They also regularly consult with other healthcare team members. Active listening skills also are part of possessing good communication skills.

What do women’s health nurse practitioners do?

WHNPs meet the healthcare needs of the 330 million women in the U.S. Depending on which healthcare setting they work in, a women’s health nurse practitioner has several job duties. Among the most common are:

• Assisting OB GYNS during surgical procedures
• Collaborating with other health professionals
• Conducting annual well-woman exams and pap smears
• Designing treatment plans for women’s health conditions
• Diagnostic screenings for breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers; female infertility hormonal issues (including menopause); and ovarian cysts
• Educating women about birth control options
• Preparing patients for medical procedures and surgeries
• Prescribing contraceptives and other medications
• Providing prenatal and postnatal care
• Providing post-surgical care

This is just a sampling of the duties included in the scope of practice for WHNPs. It is important to check with hiring managers to ensure job duties required for a job are clear.

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A day in the life of a women’s health nurse practitioner

Things can get hectic in a hurry for women’s health nurse practitioners. You may have to juggle several patients simultaneously. Some of the duties you can expect to carry out during a typical shift include:

•    Diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted diseases
•    Educating patients about their health issues
•    Helping women with family planning methods
•    Offering women targeted healthcare during perimenopause and menopause
•    Performing annual gynecological exams and providing well-woman care services
•    Providing treatment for acute and chronic women’s medical conditions

Common conditions treated by women’s health nurse practitioners

Women’s health nurse practitioners provide diagnosis and treatment for several common conditions affecting women’s health. Contraceptive care, evaluation and treatment of infections, and fertility services are within the scope of practice for this nursing specialty.

Where do women’s health nurse practitioners work?

Women’s health nurse practitioners can work in any healthcare setting where women’s wellness services are provided. Some of the most common work environments include:

•   Community clinics
•    Fertility clinics
•    Hospitals
•    Obstetrics-Gynecology physician offices
•    Private group practices

It’s also possible to work as a travel nurse when you’re a women’s health nurse practitioner. You can provide essential healthcare services to women in communities throughout the U.S. depending on how far you’re willing to travel.

What are specific types of women’s health nurse practitioners?

Women’s health nurse practitioners can specialize depending on their interests and areas of expertise. Some may choose to work with women in menopause, helping them through this important transition in their lives. Others may focus on fertility, helping women who are struggling to become pregnant.

If you want to advance your career and earn a higher salary as a women’s health nurse practitioner, you can pursue nurse administrator opportunities in community clinics, fertility clinics, or OB GYN private practices.  

Closely related fields

If you’re interested in nursing but not sure if becoming a women’s health nurse practitioner is the right career move, you have options. Some closely related fields include:

• Nurse anesthetists are a type of advanced practice registered nurse that provides pain medication to patients before, during, and after surgery.
• Nurse midwives are a type of advanced practice registered nurse that specializes in women’s reproductive health and childbirth.

How do you become a women’s health nurse practitioner in 3 steps?

Becoming a WHNP requires patience and dedication. You must complete several steps in the journey before you can begin your new nursing career.

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

All women’s health nurse practitioners must become registered nurses as the first step in the process. 

Earn a BSN degree

Earning your RN requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Alternatively, nursing professionals who already hold an Associate Degree in Nursing  (ADN) can enter an accelerated RN to MSN program that allows you to earn a bachelor’s and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) simultaneously. To become a nurse practitioner, you must hold at least a master’s degree.

Pass the NCLEX exam

Regardless of which degree program you choose, the next step is becoming a licensed RN passing the NCLEX-RN exam. All nurses must take the NCLEX exam to prove proficiency in nursing skills and abilities learned in nursing school.

You can take practice NCLEX exams to prepare yourself for the real thing. If you fail on your first attempt, you must wait 45 days before trying again.

Step 2 – Accumulate experience

Once you have your RN license, you have two choices: gain some work experience as an RN or continue toward earning an MSN degree. 

If you choose to work as an RN for a few years, there are certain kinds of work environments that may be more beneficial than others in preparing you for your role as a women’s health nurse practitioner.

Working as an RN in a fertility clinic or OB GYN private practice are great examples of ideal work environments to build your skills.

Helpful skills and experience

Some MSN programs require RNs to work for a year in a clinical setting before applying. Choosing a healthcare environment that serves women can be a good way to determine if you should finish the requirements for becoming a women’s health nurse practitioner or try something else.

Helpful skills and experience you should seek during your clinical period include:

• Communication skills that include both listening and speaking well to understand your patients’ basic needs and to work as part of a healthcare team.
• Critical thinking skills that can help you provide accurate and thorough diagnoses for your patients.
• Teamwork skills that allow you to collaborate and communicate with other healthcare providers on your patients’ healthcare teams to provide the best possible outcomes for patients.

Changing specialty to a women’s health nurse practitioner

Changing your specialty to a women’s health nurse practitioner isn’t difficult. Let’s say you’re already a nurse practitioner in general practice who wants to specialize in women’s health.

You already have the education and experience required. However, you may need to take a few additional continuing education courses to get up to speed on best practices in women’s healthcare.

Alternatively, you can seek out job opportunities in women’s healthcare settings to get some hands-on experience in your new field.

Step 3 – Obtain certifications

The final step before you can begin your career as a WHNP is to earn your certification. The National Certification Corporation is the credentialing organization for WHNPs. To qualify for the exam, WHNP candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a current RN licensure
• Complete an accredited graduate nurse practitioner program that meets all NCC program requirements
• Schedule the exam within 8 years of your graduation date

Once you complete these four steps, you can begin searching for job openings for women’s health nurse practitioners.

What are additional requirements of women’s health nurse practitioners?

You must renew your credentials periodically to maintain them. Completing continuing education credits in relevant courses for women’s health is part of the process. Your state board of nursing may have additional requirements for maintaining your licensure, so it’s best to check with them to make sure you’re up to date.

What are the salary and career outlooks for women’s health nurse practitioners?

Women’s health nurse practitioners, like most nurse practitioner specialties, are well paid. The annual average salary for WHNPs is $112,494. WHNPs without experience can expect to earn an annual average salary of $84,500 and those with much experience earning $156,000.

In addition to base salary, full-time and part-time women’s health nurse practitioners enjoy additional benefits. The perks include can include continuing education reimbursement, dental and health insurance coverage, holiday pay, paid time off, and relocation assistance.

The demand for qualified WHNPs continues to grow due to the nationwide nursing shortage and an emphasis on preventative healthcare services. Job outlook predictions from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate the demand for WHNPs will increase by 40% from 2021 to 2031. That is much higher than the average annual growth rate for other professions during the same period.

Job satisfaction

U.S. News and World Report ranks nurse practitioner as the fourth best job in the country. They awarded this positioning in the top 10 because of the results of job satisfaction surveys, working conditions, and salaries for nurses in this specialty.

How can women’s health nurse practitioners advance their careers?

There are many steps women’s health nurse practitioners make take to advance their careers. Increasing education level is just one way to help open more doors. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may be a great next step for you. Continuing to earn certifications is a great way to learn more about your practice and show prospective employers your commitment to the field.

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