WHNP with no OBGYN experience?

[MissAnna]

Hello Everyone!

It's my dream to become a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.  When I went into nursing school for my BSN, I had an end goal in mind of working with women and advocating for their reproductive rights.  I had the most amazing NP as my primary care and she really inspired me to pursue this career.  I really want to apply to Cal State Fullerton's WHNP program.  Their mission statement aligns directly with my beliefs.  The program trains primarily for the outpatient setting, which is exactly what I want to do.  

However...my main setback is that they have have preferred 1 year experience in OBGYN.  I'm a new nurse, with 14 months of experience, working in a heavy general surgical med surg floor.  Fortunately, we do have patients from all backgrounds including d&c, hysterectomy, mastectomy, ovarian CA etc... But I don't have direct OBGYN experience.  

All though I'm very passionate about Women's Health, I don't have much interest in L&D.  Women giving birth is not a passion of mine, but I feel like it's an easier way to get OBGYN experience.  My hospital just had an opening for L&D internship, but I didn't apply and now I'm somewhat regretting not applying because I could of used the experience.  I'm currently looking for other OBGYN opportunities ideally in the outpatient setting, but I haven't had any luck.

So now I'm at a crossroads, do I jump start my career and apply now with limited experience? Or do I hold off and try to get OBGYN experience and be a more competitive applicant?

 

[amoLucia]

OP - you're an 'old new graduate' with current experience, incl some WH surgeries.  I doubt you would've qualified for that internship position.

You can always try to apply to school and see how things go.