FNP or WHNP

obgoddess · Feb 25, 2012

I think if you went with FNP there would be more hiring options. My friend graduated with a FNP degree but works with in an OB/GYn office in a NP capacity.

Aniva · Mar 4, 2012

Yes, an FNP can work primarily in the women's health position, if they're open. If you have the FNP it gives you a wider scope of job opportunities. If you only have a womens health certification, you limit your search options and marketability. Womens health specialist cannot cross over to other realms, but FNP can.

danceluver · Mar 4, 2012

do you know if FNP is able to do OB care (prenatal, pregnancy care) in the office? Are they trained enough in clinicals for this? (or do make sure you are? Or does FNPs mainly do gyn? I am interested in this field tremendously (more so prenatal care and postpartum care), and am wondering if i'd get the same OB exposure as i would in a WHNP program if I so desired...ie: elective clinical hours, etc. Are there FNPs working in reproductive endo (infertility) too?

Is there a way to specialize in women's health in a FNP program?

@obgoddess: What is your friend performing in her current job in a ob/gyn practice? Did she have RN experience in women's health prior?

SydneyJo1 · Mar 5, 2012

I am in a WHNP program, and I considered switching to FNP because of all the postings I've seen on here about how limited the WHNP is compared to FNP. I talked to the director of the FNP program at my school and asked the same questions you are asking: can I still work in women's health as an FNP? Will I be able to tailor my clinicals to give me enough women's health training in the FNP program? She told me that at my school there is just a 1 credit women's health class in the FNP program and that clinicals need to be in a family practice setting, so my exposure to women's health will be very limited. Her advice was that if I wanted to work in women's health and to be an expert in that area, I should stay in the WHNP program because FNP training would not cut it. Although I COULD work in women's health as an FNP due to the scope of practice, the education itself will not give me enough training in that specific area. So I've decided to go with my passion and stay with the WHNP. Yes, the scope of practice is very specific and narrow, but career opportunities depend mostly on where you live. I'd advise you to do a little research on the number of WHNP jobs available and the number of OB/GYN clinics that utilize NPs (do they prefer FNP or WHNP) and then decide from there.

danceluver · Mar 5, 2012

@sydneyjo1: Thanks...sent you a message :)

sheronep, MSN, RN · Mar 10, 2012

I am applying for WHNP and I never thought about FNP - I have always been interested in womens health.

Now I have not looked into the job market. I will go where I am called.

nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP · Mar 10, 2012

I do women's health as a part of my FNP practice. I also do pre-natal care until they off to the "big city" at 36 weeks.

I do IUDs, paps etc.

Tinabeanrn · Mar 11, 2012

FNPs perform tons of women's health services. Paps, prenatal, endometrial biopsy, IUDs and etc. They can do everything but deliver a baby :). I would go with FNP because womens health may be limited with the job market depending on where you work. And it depends on what school you attend. Some FNP programs make you have a certain number of paps/pelvic exams and GYN services before being able to complete that clinical area.

sailornurse · Apr 2, 2012

I am in a WHNP program, and I considered switching to FNP because of all the postings I've seen on here about how limited the WHNP is compared to FNP. I talked to the director of the FNP program at my school and asked the same questions you are asking: can I still work in women's health as an FNP? Will I be able to tailor my clinicals to give me enough women's health training in the FNP program? She told me that at my school there is just a 1 credit women's health class in the FNP program and that clinicals need to be in a family practice setting, so my exposure to women's health will be very limited. Her advice was that if I wanted to work in women's health and to be an expert in that area, I should stay in the WHNP program because FNP training would not cut it. Although I COULD work in women's health as an FNP due to the scope of practice, the education itself will not give me enough training in that specific area. So I've decided to go with my passion and stay with the WHNP. Yes, the scope of practice is very specific and narrow, but career opportunities depend mostly on where you live. I'd advise you to do a little research on the number of WHNP jobs available and the number of OB/GYN clinics that utilize NPs (do they prefer FNP or WHNP) and then decide from there.

Well I guess it depends on the school but NP education is dictated by the NONPF (National Organization of NP Faculty), so I am not sure why the FNP program at your school would only include 1 credit. When I was in my FNP program, our entire first semester was Women's Health, taught by the Women's Health faculty and mid-wives because the first semester WHNP students took the same classes. We had the option of becoming certified in IUD/Norplant insertion. We were taught pre-natal,post-partum care, had to memorize every detail of the menstrual cycle )luteal phase anyone???, Had to do paps, breast exams, (loved the Contraceptive Technology text!!! In fact, one student in the class behind mine was a WHNP who was coming back for FNP due to limited market as most marketable is FNP & our clinicals were in Women's Health settings, My preceptor was a WHNP, my friends was a CNM who expected her to know pelvimetry which he had one lecture on!!! So I do agree with you that the market is dependent on where you live, but again life happens and you can end up living in an area where the market is different. Our second semester was all pediatrics taught by PNP's. The semester's were structured that was so that by 3rd semester when we did Adult I, in clinical we could see anyone that walked in.

SydneyJo1 · Apr 2, 2012

Obviously that particular FNP program would make one very well versed in women's health. I wish the FNP at my school included that much women's health content, but there is literally ONE CREDIT. It's Vanderbilt University, by the way, so you can double check.

Tinabeanrn · Apr 2, 2012

Wow Sailornurse. That sounds like an amazing program :). Too bad all FNP programs are not created equal. Our program discussed peds and OB as we went all. We always talked about adults and peds/ob when applicable. I would have like them separated like that. What school did you attend?