How to Become a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Know the role: what does a women's health nurse practitioner do?

A women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who focuses on providing healthcare services to women across the lifespan, from adolescence to menopause and beyond.

While many registered nurses can specialize in labor & delivery or OBGYN, WHNPs have more autonomy to provide preventive & educational primary care for women across all ages and stages of life.

General roles & responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities of a women’s health nurse practitioner can include:

• Performing physical examinations and order diagnostic tests
• Prescribe medications
• Develop and implement treatment plans
• Refer patients to specialists, and collaborate with other healthcare staff to ensure proper care
• Routine check-ups, pap smears, breast exams, screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Provide education and counseling on many health topics

The importance of preventive care and education

WHNPs play a vital role in preventive care to educate their patients on how to achieve the best health outcomes. Their counsel covers a variety of topics, including:

• Family planning and contraception
• Pregnancy and prenatal care
• Menopause and hormone therapy
• Sexual health and education
• Nutrition and exercise
• Mental health and well-being

WHNPs can diagnose and treat a variety of different conditions for women, including:

• Gynecological problems, such as endometriosis, irregular periods, or pelvic pain 
• Urinary tract infections and bladder problems
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid disorders
• Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression

Where can women’s health NPs work?

Women’s health nurse practitioners can work in several different types of healthcare facilities, including:

• Doctor’s offices
• Women’s health centers
• Family planning centers
• Clinics and hospitals
• Academic settings as a teacher or researcher

Comparisons to other roles in women’s health

There are several different types of healthcare professionals involved in women’s health, including WHNP and:

• OBGYN nurse practitioners. These NPs may be WHNPs, Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP), and even Adult Gerontology NPs that have chosen to focus on pregnancy and childbirth, as opposed to serving a primary care role through the lifespan.
• OBGYN physicians. Obstetricians have a higher level of expertise in complex pregnancies, high-risk deliveries, and performing gynecological surgeries.
• Certified nurse midwives (CNM). Nurse midwives play a different role in the pregnancy and childbirth period, and can also deliver babies. Learn more about the biggest differences between CNM and WHNP.
• Labor & delivery nurses. These types of RNs provide direct care to patients during labor and delivery, though they do not have an advanced degree. They can perform and read vital signs, administer medications, assist with breastfeeding, or perform newborn assessments.
• OBGYN RNs. An RN who works in OBGYN can potentially assist with routine patient care tasks for patients in an OBGYN department outside of strictly labor and delivery.

3. Earn a master’s degree in nursing

You’ll need to earn at least an MSN in the women’s health NP specialty to qualify for certification and eventually practice in your state.

A master’s-level WHNP curriculum includes the advanced knowledge and skills you need to pass the certification exam and become fully prepared to excel in your first WHNP job.

Our School of Nursing offers multiple pathways for current RNs to earn an MSN-WHNP:

• Go from BSN to MSN. Our MSN-WHNP program is designed for RNs who hold a BSN.
• Go from ADN/ASN to MSN. Our Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP option is designed for RNs who hold an associate degree in nursing.
• Go from MSN to post master's certificate. If you have already earned a master's degree, you’ll need to earn a post master’s certificate in WHNP to qualify for the WHNP-BC exam.

A note regarding the FNP pathway

Some women’s health nurse practitioners have a background as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). 

Keep in mind this is a separate track, despite an FNP curriculum containing some coursework covering women’s health topics. The National Certification Corporation (NCC), the board certifying agency for women’s health nurse practitioners, does not accept FNP education as eligible education to sit for WHNP-BC certification. 

If you eventually choose to broaden your specialty to FNP in the future, you will need to enroll in a post master’s certificate WHNP program to become qualified to sit for the WHNP-BC exam.

5. Obtain licensure in your state

Note the difference between being licensed and certified: becoming certified shows employers you are capable of patient care in a women’s health setting, while licensure determines if you are legally allowed to practice in your state of residence.

Each state has their own requirements for licensure as an advanced practice nurse. You will need to locate the requirements, which can be found on your state’s board of nursing website along with the current process for licensure.

Keep in mind employers may require board certification before hiring a WHNP even if practicing without certification is legally permissible in your state.