help! Women's health or midwifery or family

pinny · Oct 26, 2003

Hello,

In response to your post, yes you should look into the family NP option. I am a women's health nurse practitioner- I just took and passed my certification exam. However, it has been very difficult to find a job. If I were a family NP, I probably already would have a job...however, it may have been with an adult population in a specialty such as cardio or pain OR I would be working in Peds. The good thing about family is that you are very marketable. If your dream is to service women though, a family NP can do that too. Don't limit yourself like I did.

Pinny

bethny · Oct 26, 2003

Thanks so much for your honest answer. Do you think that adult NP is comparable to family NP?

I am sorry to hear that the market is so hard for WH NP. Good luck with you job search.

When you find that great job that is the perfect fit, you will be so happy that you perservered through all the negatives associated with job searches.

Thanks again,

Bethny

pinny · Oct 26, 2003

In my opinion (and that's all it is), the adult NP role is just one aspect of the family NP role. My friends who graduated in adult chose jobs that focused on men and women in certain focused specialties such as cardio in acute care settings or in primary care clinics. On the other hand, my family NP friends chose jobs in pediatrics but were also able to work in primary care with adults if that was their interest.

The benefit of family is that it allows you to see the whole gamut- including GYN. As for your interest in women's H, the adult NP grads I knew could work with women and GYN issues although it wasn't their strongest skill or desire....I still recommend family since you want to focus on W's H.

P.S. thanks for the words of encouragement!

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2003

So...is the only difference between WHNP the delivery? I'm just doing my application and I was thinking that in the rural areas, where the female to male Dr. ratio has yet to catch up with the metro areas, that a WHNP would be a great way to go! As a woman, I only want to see a woman for "female" exams. Can anyone give me a snapshot of "a day in the life" of a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner?

DL,WHNP · Jan 30, 2004

In response to Ceecel.dee...I love being a WHNP...Your choice of study depends on what tou really want to do in practice. I chose this over midwifery because after many years of nights and weekends in L&D, I no longer wanted to get up at 3 am and push for hours. If you really like deliveries, then CNM would be your best choice. I still love OB and that is what you can do with a WHNP that you cannot really do with FNP (although I know this is part of training, it really is not sufficient to be hired by an OB practice). I also enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about gyn which was something new to me.

Good luck

globalRN · Jan 31, 2004

I have a friend doing the CNM program and a WHNP cert.

She tells me that hospitals are opting out of hiring CNMs because

of insurance issues. If this is so, CNMs will find it harder to find jobs as employees? Personally, I think the on call for L&Ds and the malpractice insurance rates aren't worth it.

FNPs have a hard time finding jobs too...there is a glut in many areas(San Francisco area) where there are many NP schools.

I hear that WHNPs tend to make the least...because they usually work for organizations which serve marginalized or subsidized healthcare clients(poor women). That seems to make sense/cents....nonprofit organizations aren't likely to have deep purses.

Finally, FNP will allow you to work with nearly any population you wish...although some areas may require more specific experience.

Think of FNP as a generalist....when you get your RN...you can specialize or whatever, the options are there. If you are a psych nurse (not RNs) you can only work in psych.

TMnurse · Feb 24, 2004

I am applying to accelerated bs/ms nursing programs to become a nurse practioner. I have been told that doctors tend to hire nurse midwives over women's health np. Is this true? Also, I have been told that it is best to become a family NP instead of a women's health NP because it will allow me more flexibility. Is this true? Can I get work in a gyno office as a family np? What is the point of a women's health nurse practitioner...it seems redundent with midewifery and family NP. If your goal is to work in women's health but could see yourself growing into other areas what would you advise?
THanks

I currently work with a WHNP and she still works as an RN. She mentioned that if she was a ANP or FNP she would of had the pick of three groups to work at. I guess the one advantage is her program only took 12 months... draw back... no job!

IrisC · Aug 20, 2004

I am a WHNP from NJ and am working in a federally subsidized ambulatory clinic. At first I worked in a private MD office but the security wasn't there. Now I work 5 days a week 8 hour days no weekend no holidays and love it that my patients stay at the clinic. The pay sure beats labor and delivery units and I get to spend time with my family and yet do the profession I love. It was worth the years I spent in school to get my master's and certification (4 long years). I get to do everything in women's health except deliver the baby. It's ok though I don't need the liability of 21 years + 2 . family NP is too broad and you always end up specializing in something anyway might as well be certified in what you are speiciallizing in. God bless and good luck

joyrochelle · Jan 20, 2005

but how do you know whether or not a FNP program will prepare you as well as a WHNP program would? I am en route ( prereq's) to a FNP program now, although i want to do womens health. Many of the midwives that i work with state that whatever i specify within the clinical compnent of the APRN education is where i really get my education...so if its womens health, then I can tailor it to be that specific. but will it be really? The only WHNP program near me is YAle ( ick...sorry.. for personal reasons, i just cant alllow myself to consider it!) otherwise i could do the distance learning at SUNY or through Planned Parenthood. otherwise i will stay right where i am and do the FNP.... this seems to be a confusign point for many of us here.

I just want to be capable, efficient and appropriately educated, as well as employable as a womens healthcare provider.... is out of the scope of practice for a FNP to practice Womens health?