FNP vs Women's Health NP-- looking for program info

allnurses Guide · Mar 27, 2015

You don't have to work in practice with children unless you choose to do so.

If you only want to do WH then do WH. The FNP education can prepare you for this as well but if that's all you are interested in then there is no reason not to just go for WH. You may be more marketable as an FNP but maybe not as marketable in the area you want to practice.

Your APN education is an investment in your future. Looking for the cheapest/quickest/easiest way to a degree is the wrong way to look at it. Go to the best school you can get into.

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GrnMtn21 · Mar 27, 2015

I'm not looking for the quickest way to get a degree. I said "great, affordable, and online"... not sure where you got the aforementioned. I have a 4.0 from a University and take my schooling seriously. Experienced ER nurse with plenty of certifications and i'm also a sexual assault nurse examiner, so I value improving my profession and knowledge. However, I was saying affordable and online, because I work full-time and have student loans from a previous degree prior to nursing... I agree with the WH, but I didn't know if I should go for FNP and focus on WH. As much as education is an investment, it doesn't always mean everyone can spend $50-80k on graduate school if your speciality doesn't have jobs. I was hoping to find responses from WHNP.

sadiemae1123 · Mar 27, 2015

If moving is an option, then you might consider one of the Federal scholarship programs that is available for people willing to relocate to underserved areas and work in a qualified clinic.

Chesterton1 · Mar 28, 2015

Sweet! a fellow Vermonter! I don't know where in Vermont you are situated but perhaps the job outlook might be better in New York or New Hampshire? Also, I don't think if you become a FNP you will be required to work with Children. I mean FNP's are in all sorts of different departments and such. Even the Nursing Home where I am at his its own Nurse Practitioner and she obviously doesn't deal with Children here. However like all things, its something that has to be worked at perhaps you could become a FNP and slowly work your way into the WH? I know that I want to be a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and I am going to have to take as many step (as small or big as needed) to start heading in that direction.

Good luck.

allnurses Guide · Mar 28, 2015

Honestly, we see posts like this all the time. Most people are looking for an online option, and almost as often for a cheap or quick or easy option to go along with online. Everyone has their own reason: student loans, full time job, kids, spouse, etc. I think we all understand that, but I would suspect most that have gone through it, would recommend putting emphasis on a quality program, especially an established program, if available and feasible for your personal situation.

The tough truth is most quality programs are not online, and if they are, they aren't cheap. Further, my professional opinion is that online programs are excellent for those regions that have no access to brick and mortar programs. They are less desirable in regions that have sufficient established B&M programs. Especially if one of your most important concerns is the job market upon graduation. Local quality established programs have established network and normally have excellent employment rates.

Truth is that most NP programs, online or B&M, will not allow for you to work full time though the entirety of the program, especially if full time.

I don't know of many online WHNP programs, though I am sure they exist. You may want to move your thread to the NP forum for better exposure.

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GrnMtn21 · Mar 28, 2015

Thank you. I was looking into that. I was speaking with someone who works at an FQHC and she was bummed to find out she was denied HRSA. But it is something to keep in mind!

Chesterton1 · Mar 28, 2015

Well the University of Vermont which is our states medical college is actually a very well respected university that I think she should pursue.

University of Vermont College of Medicine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GrnMtn21 · Mar 28, 2015

Chesterton1 Thanks for your reply! Are you working in VT? I was thinking maybe New Hampshire. I started my nursing career at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Are you an NP? That's awesome that you want to become a Psych NP! On my psych rotation, the psychiatrist said "everyone wanted to be a cardiologist in med school, but I knew I wanted to do this because it's always changing." I'm leaning more towards just going for WHNP and doing it part-time. It's tough because for right now, I need to be in my hometown and the only school is UVM and they do not offer WHNP. It's disappointing how Vermont doesn't have more options...

Chesterton1 · Mar 28, 2015

Chesterton1 Thanks for your reply! Are you working in VT? I was thinking maybe New Hampshire. I started my nursing career at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Are you an NP? That's awesome that you want to become a Psych NP! On my psych rotation, the psychiatrist said "everyone wanted to be a cardiologist in med school, but I knew I wanted to do this because it's always changing." I'm leaning more towards just going for WHNP and doing it part-time. It's tough because for right now, I need to be in my hometown and the only school is UVM and they do not offer WHNP. It's disappointing how Vermont doesn't have more options...

Man, I wish I was a NP right now lol. I'm actually just starting my journey into the nursing career and am working on becoming a LNA and start my prerequisites in the summer. I have to agree with you tho that it is discouraging that our state does not have many programs. Heck there is only one brick and mortar BSN program in our state, and they no longer offer an ASN (Castleton State College) VTC is the only college in the state (or one of only a few) that offers ASN (I think Norwich has a nursing program tho...I haven't looked into it because I'm not going to kid myself about getting in that place lol) Anyways, good luck with whatever you set out to do, sadly nothing in this life comes cheap anymore and it just might be a pill that will have to be swallowed.

GrnMtn21 · Mar 28, 2015

BostonFNP, i'm definitely not going for easiest and quickest. I take my role seriously. That would be scary and reckless, esp. in the NP role. I absolutely was not trying to come off that way.

I would prefer in-classroom, but one of my friends who went to UVM a few years back was a bit disappointed because it was not all in-classroom; they actually had quite a bit online. I think it's because VT is so rural and with only one school that offers graduate nursing options, it's tough so people are traveling a distance to get there. They also focus on primary care FNP, which is great and obviously needed... but as I said, just not sure I want to go down that path. They also do not offer FNP anymore, only DNP. UVM has great connections with the community and is well-respected so I would love to go there if I was 100% set on FNP.

Any thoughts on Frontier University?

GrnMtn21 · Mar 28, 2015

Chesterton1- That's awesome you are starting your journey! I would suggest starting off the bat with a BSN program, if you are able to do so. Are you close to Castleton State College? They recently received accreditation. Also, does your employer offer tuition reimbursement? If you take your pre-reqs at a local community college, you could save money and focus on your academics, then apply to UVM, Castleton or Norwich. Save your money with the pre-reqs and spend your money on the BSN. Any ideas of what type of nursing you want to do? Anything catch your eye? I agree, everything costs lots of money. I just wish I had figured out I wanted to do nursing when I first started my college career.