The following was written by Shawana Moore, DNP, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC. Dr. Moore is an Assistant Professor and Women’s Health-Gender Related Nurse Practitioner Program Director at Jefferson University, as well as an NPWH Board Member.
November 10th-16th, 2019, we celebrate nurse practitioners (NPs) throughout our nation for their extraordinary contribution to society. NPs care for individuals throughout the lifespan, lead healthcare systems, advocate for health policies, educate communities, and transform the way healthcare is delivered.
Statistics on Nurse Practitioners
- 270,000 practice in the United States1
- 1% have graduate degrees2
- Hold prescriptive privileges, including controlled substances, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia3
Specialty Areas Available for Nurse Practitioners
There are multiple speciality areas in which nurse practitioners can obtain their primary certification. These include:
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners
Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) specialize in the care of women and make up 2.7% of NPs.3 According to a survey completed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2018, most WHNPs work as part of a private practice obstetrics and gynecology group.3 WHNPs practice in inpatient and outpatient settings, treating individuals throughout their lifespan and caring for their sexual and reproductive health care needs with a comprehensive and holistic approach.
Practice Settings Include:
- Urogynecology Clinics
- Gynecology-Oncology Clinics
- Primary Care Clinics
- Obstetric Triage Units
- Breast Health Centers
- Obstetric and Gynecology Outpatient Clinics
- Postpartum Units
- Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Offices
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinics
- Sexual Health Practices
- Women’s Correctional Facilities
- Family Planning Clinics or Health Centers
Areas of Care Include:
- Well-women care
- Adolescent health
- Contraceptive counseling
- Transgender health
- Pregnancy testing
- Infertility treatment
- Sexual Health
- Male reproductive and sexual health
- Menopausal health
- Sexually transmitted infection treatment
- Screening for general health problems
- Breast health
- Gynecological cancers
Resources
Facts about the women’s health nurse practitioner can be found on Nurse Practitioner & Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Practice Facts website provided by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. Additionally, WHNP Guidelines for Practice and Education – 7th Edition, provides information on the role of women’s health nurse practitioners, practice guidelines and competencies of practices.
During this special week, let us take time to recognize the significance of nurse practitioners and the role of women’s health nurse practitioners in improving the lives of women everywhere.
References
- AANP National Nurse Practitioner Database, 2019.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2019). 2018-2019 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing. Washington DC: AACN.
- 2018 AANP National Nurse Practitioner Sample Survey.
