Question for Women's Health Nurse Practitioners

[Hopeful1003]

Hello! This is my first post here on allnurses. I have a question for the WHNPs out there! I am interested in one day becoming a WHNP. I am concerned, however, with the likelihood of getting a job post graduation. I am against the use of artificial birth control and would not prescribe it for patients. Is this something that would harm my chances of finding a job? Would I be able to get a job?

I thank you in advance for your kind and helpful responses.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Hello,

Yes, that could be a deciding factor whether or not to hire you in an OB-GYN practice.

[bsnanat2]

That is a big issue to overcome. BC is a staple in ob/gyn practice. Knew someone who had issues with ordering blood, so he turned down a hematology offer (they approached him). Said he loved the doc but didn't think it would work with inpatient consults. We all need to stand by our principles, but that sometimes means giving up things we really want. The question is, 'what is more important to you, the dream or your principles?'

[chaka_1709]

That is a major issue. A lot of women go to ob/gyn for birth control. Also, I know its your values/beliefs but as a health care provider your job is to provide teaching and let the patient make her own choice on whether or not she wants bc. If it is that big of a deal for you then how would you let future patients know that you have limited services and artificial birth control is not one of your services?

[Dembitz, APRN]

Recent grad and WHNP-BC. I think this would be problem, even in training. Contraceptive options were a large part of my clinical training. Some of my classmates did rotations in sub-specialties like urogyn and a breast center, and at those placements you probably wouldn't have anything do do with contraception. I would think it would be close to impossible to get through all of your student rotations without providing contraceptive counseling and prescriptions. If you could tolerate it through school, you might be able to find a sub-specialty job where you don't have to prescribe contraception, but those positions might be much tougher to get as a new grad with no experience.