The Women's Health specialty track prepares advanced practice nurses to give direct care to meet women's unique concerns and needs across the life span, including all women care from adolescence through old age, and care of women during normal pregnancies. It also provides preparation at the advanced practice level for roles such as participating in research; publishing; and serving as a case manager, or educator for patients, groups, communities and other health care professionals.
The program admits registered nurses who have a baccalaureate degree from a National League for Nursing accredited nursing program. The full-time option is a 1.5 year program of 45 credits. The program of study includes 24 credits of core courses, 18 credits of maternal and child health theory and Women's Health clinical practica; 600 clinical hours over two semesters, and one elective. Students who opt to complete the master's program on a part-time basis have five years to do so.
The Women's Health specialty has a Additional Specialty Concentration for master's-prepared nurses seeking certification as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. Students selecting this option receive academic credit for a course sequence which is determined on an individual basis considering previous university and professional experiences.
Graduates will be able to:
- Sit for the certification examination offered by the National Certification
Corporation (NCC) as a Women's Health nurse Practitioner (formerly called
OB/GYN NP)
- Apply for advanced practice credentialing as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
(in those states requiring such credentialing)
- Apply for prescription writing privileges and be eligible for third party
reinforcement (in states where NPs have these privileges)
- Apply to doctoral programs in nursing
- Assume a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner or Maternal Child Health Clinical Nurse Specialist role both inside and outside of formal health care agencies and institutions
Learn more about Women's Heath Nursing»