Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP)

The Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP) specialty, through the Master of Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, prepares students to become nurse practitioners specializing in women's health. Students learn basic primary health care skills as well as the skills needed to provide ambulatory health care to pregnant and non-pregnant women.

The WHCNP course work qualifies graduates to apply for certification from the National Certification Corporation (NCC) as a women's health care nurse practitioner. This specialty is currently available to applicants in both the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs.

Within the WHCNP specialty option, clinical decision making is emphasized to prepare students to:

• provide specialty obstetrical and gynecological care within NP scope of practice
• diagnose and treat common acute adult health problems
• order and interpret screening and diagnostic tests
• counsel patients on healthy lifestyles (health promotion)
• conduct risk assessment and reduction
• collaborate with the patient to promote patient self care
• prescribe medications
• consult with other health care providers when appropriate

Distance learning options are not currently available for this specialty.

• Practice Characteristics/Certifications
• Curriculum Overview/Clinical-Narrative
• Department of Family and Child Nursing