WHCNP vs CNM

Published

What's the difference between a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Nurse Midwife in terms of what they do? Is a WHCNP an RN with a certificate and a CNM a more advanced nurse or APRN with a Master's degree? I would assume that the focus on birth would be the major, if not only, difference since CNMs do women health care.

Thanks.

And just to understand, WHCNPs concentrate on . . .? Curious, if you have an MSN can you be certified to do both?

Yale's website states that it's program makes a graduate eligible for adult nurse practitioner certification and whnp certification (allowing you to provide not only OB/GYN care but any other health care concerns a female pt may have w/in scope of practice of course).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, thanks for all the help.

I was just wanting to be clear about it since it was fuzzy to me.

Thanks mitchsmom, for the info. I'm much more interested in the FNP than the WHNP, but even better is the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery or CNEP program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

San Diego State University as well....2 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are WHNPs able to provide full-scope primary care services to women (versus only OB/GYN care)? Are CNMs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would like to know as well. Because if not, that credential has absolutely no advantage over any other. Why would you want to go to school for two years to only be able to do gyno?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I would like to know as well. Because if not, that credential has absolutely no advantage over any other. Why would you want to go to school for two years to only be able to do gyno?

In some cases it may not be possible for a CNM to provide full scope care- in some areas is it not accepted by the medical community, in other cases laws and policies are too restrictive. In those areas CNMs are typically employed in the function of WHNPs without doing deliveries. In those areas it is beneficial to have the WHNP certification as it makes being considered for the job easier for people who may be unfamiliar with midwives. It is also a lot more expensive to provide for a midwife (even when not doing deliveries) so it can often make a difference for someone who holds the dual degree to be insured as a WHNP.

Midwives are considered primary care providers for government purposes (MEdicaire, etc) and primary care is part of the certification exam. I am not sure about this for WHNPs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Can a CNM work as a WHNP and not have the same liability if they don't do deliveries? Will private practices hire CNMs who plan on not delivering instead of a whnp? Anyone know how much prenatal care whnp can do? I am possibly interested in becoming a WHNP (or cnm) but i am really interested in ob care. I don't mind too much if i don't deliver (because where i live there are a lot of whnp but very few cnm) but i do want to learn the intricacies of ob care. Will i get that in an whnp program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

I know at Frontier, if you graduate with your CNM, it only takes a couple of months of additional clinical hours to be eligible to take your WHNP exam. No further written or book work. I doubt that a WHNP would be doing any prenatal care. If you are interested in taking care of pregnant women at all, I would go the CNM route.

And yes, some private practices will hire a CNM for a NP-type role, as long as they understand what a CNM is qualified to do. (Which many do not...)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion