Neonatal Nurse Practitioner vs. Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

neonatal_nurse · Jan 26, 2010

I think you should go through nursing school first, after all your rotations, you can pick one which interests you the most. You have a very limited view of nursing at this point, as you are not even on your first day of school. Brief overview: being a women's health nurse practitioner entails a broader knowledge (and skills, training, clinicals) on the subject matter as you will be dealing with EVERYTHING about women's health, you're basically like an OB-GYN, but with the nursing process approach of course. On the other hand, being a neonatal nurse practitioner is more specific (and definitely challenging) as it is a subspecialty of nursing so you have to have experience in the field and great interest in neonates. Lots of nurses would like to be a neonatal nurse, they think it's so easy with tasks just like feeding and cuddling, but NO, it's a critical area, that's not much thought in school, you really have to be an RN first to gain much experience and eventually become an NP.

iah023 · Jan 26, 2010

Thank you for the information, however, I have done much research and I already knew the generalities of the two positions and the steps to get there. True, I have not been through nursing school and clinicals yet, however, I have a very large interest in the field and I have had a large amount of volunteering and shadowing these positions as well. I am also aware that both positions are critical and not to be taken lightly. I also do plan on gaining experience within the field before I apply for either of the two programs. I really do thank you for responding, however, I was looking for more specific information about the two fields as well as colleges in the Southeastern United States area that offer either of the two programs. :)

Johnny B · Jan 26, 2010

Well, being a new student myself I applaud you for trying to plan out your future career. Having a good idea of what you want to do and where your passion is is very important. I'm planning on being a Nurse Practitioner one day and I wish you the best of luck in your future career. :)

Humbled_Nurse · Jan 26, 2010

Well it really all depends on what interests you more and where your passion is. There are many differences between a Neonatal Nurse Practioner and a Women's Health Nurse Practioner. As a WHNP the patient will obviously be the women and as an NNP your patient is the baby. You really have nothing to do with the woman as an NNP other than knowing her history obviously.

The setting will differ in that an NNP will be in a hospital setting in the NICU and a WHNP will most likely be in an outpatient setting. If you like to deal with emergency situations and adrenaline you may want to be an NNP. If you work in a large tertiary care NICU you will see a lot! If you work in a smaller NICU it may be a little slower pace, but still very challenging.

An NNP will have a different skill set. NNP's intubate, put in umbilical lines, needle chests, attend hight risk deliveries, etc... and many of these procedures are done in an emergent situation. Example being a mom drops in and delivers her 24 week 1 pound baby and it is up to you to get that infant stabilized until the neonatologist arrives. Not all NICU's have a neonatologist on the unit at all times, but there is usually an NNP around 24/7. A WHNP will perform many procedures, but not necessarily on an emergent basis. These procedures are usually routine and scheduled (PAP smears, pelvic exams, etc...).

Also the schedule you work will likely differ. As an WHNP you will likely work a Monday through Friday type of schedule. Not sure if they take call. The NNP's I work with work 24 hour shifts and work at several different NICU's.

As a WHNP you will get to know your patient's very well and will likely establish a long term relationship with your patient's. You will do a lot of teaching and preventative type care. Many of your patients will be healthy. The NNP deals with sick neonates only. None of your patient's will necessarily be healthy unless you work in the well baby nursery. Some babies only stay a day or two or they may stay for up to a year.

Assessment skills can be more challenging with neonates because obviously they can't verbalize what they are feeling so you need to have sharp assessment skills.

I know a nurse who has been in NICU for a long time who went and got her WHNP and she loves it.

If I were you once you get into nursing school I would look into shadowing an NNP and a WHNP so you can see the differences first hand. I think they are pretty different!

Hope that helps!

Humbled_Nurse · Jan 26, 2010

Forgot to add that at this point I wouldn't worry about what college to get your Master's in. Before you get into an NNP program or a WHNP you will need nursing experience. If you want to pursue NNP you will need at least a couple of years of RN experience in a level III NICU before applying. Many NNP programs are on-line now and as far as I know they are pretty easy to get into as long as you have NICU experience.

If you want to pursue WHNP your best bet would be to get several years experience in womens adult care such as labor and delivery, postpartum, etc... Not really sure if the WHNP programs are hard to get into, but I imagine if you have several years of appropriate nursing experience it shouldn't be too difficult.

Good luck!

iah023 · Jan 27, 2010

Thank you very much for that VERY informative response. That was exactly what I was looking for and I really appreciate your input. You have given me a lot to think about in order for me to make an educated decision for my future. I am thankful for your help. :)