Women's Health vs Family NP

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hello,

I am in a post-BSN to DNP program...When I applied, I applied for the Women's Health DNP which is where my interests are. That very year the school eliminated their Women's Health Program and I was accepted instead into the Family NP Program.

I have heard that the program you are in determines the license exam you sit for (adult NP Program=adult NP licensing exam) and that you have to practice according to the license you receive (adult NP license=adult nurse practitioner). I have also heard stories about NPs who were licensed as adult NPs and wanted to practice women's health and had to work a certain amount of hours in adult health to maintain their license. I have been trying to find answers for weeks, as I am reluctant to continue much further in my program until this is confirmed (I completed first year). My advisor said that I could practice women's health with a family license (which I knew) but she could not confirm whether, if I am licensed in family practice, I will need to also work in family practice to maintain my license.

I just really need to know if I will have to work as a Family NP in order to maintain my license, or if I can work exclusively in women's health with a family NP license. Please help!

Thanks!

Kim

Ok really, so peer reviewed scientific studies are not facts?

Ok then. I'm done.

If one article was all it took to prove a point, then there wouldn't be the need to repeat studies and there wouldn't be a large library of professional journals....or did you miss the validity lecture?

Part of that evidenced-based medicine thingy.

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Nomad - agree facts are needed in order to support views or opinions. Im all for that. I am fully aware that the Consensus Model is just that....a model and certainly not the end all of APRN practice. However, it seems to be on the NCSBN bandwagon. I neither support nor disagree with it, just providing info so others will know what is being discussed by the suits that govern our practice as APRNs.

Like you, as an APRN, I know its easy for those that are not APRNs, to come and give opinions that may or may not be true. We try to be respectful of all opinions here at AN.

The main discourse here seems that there is some disagreement among some professors that may be giving wrong info to students.

To the students - I always advise you to get involved with your states APRN organization. In the US, our practice is governed by our states with input from other organizations like AACN and NCSBN.

Too many cooks.....

...and I wouldn't disagree with anything that you have said.

My only point in posting at all is just to mention a small tidbit of information that someone may want to check out...nothing more, nothing less.

I never even posted it as my personal opinion...I clearly stated where I got the information, clearly stated I didn't know the details, etc.

For example...you understood exactly where the miscommunication may have taken place and provided a very excellent source and explained that the proposed changes were simply a model, but nothing was in stone as of yet

I mean...how can anyone that is of reasonable intelligence and temperament have an issue with that? I don't. I love to learn new things and am more than willing to accept additional information whenever it comes across.

Nomad just freaking out over a simple statement (because what I posted wasn't even an opinion...just a passing thought NEVER presented as cold hard fact) is just ridiculous and is an example of everything that is wrong with our profession.

If she had done the same as you? You know what I would have said in response? "Thank you for the clarification."

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

OMG, stop beating a dead horse.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

One more time.

Stop the bickering. It's unprofessional and divisive.

If we cannot discuss civilly, we will just have to close the thread for a while.

One more rude/divisive post we will close the thread , clean it up, and contact the offenders privately applying TOS in the process.

Fair warning, o.k?

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Hello all, I wanted to leave an update as I was able to find some information from the director of Women's Health at my program in NJ: If you are trained as an FNP, you are not eligible to sit for the WHNP licensing exam. If you are licensed as an FNP, you are trained to meet Women's Health needs, but in order to keep your license in good standing you must work for 1000 hours/year as an FNP. Also, the WHNP is a much more extensive training, and as such, is better preparation. Having to work 1000 hours a year as an FNP makes it impossible to work full time as a WHNP. This is how it is in NJ, and is different from state to state. My school is in the process of integrating with another school which has a WHNP program, and hopefully they will integrate the WHNP program in. Otherwise I will have to transfer. Thanks to all for your help with this.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

Your work in women's health counts as the 1000 hours. Same as if you we're working in ER, cardiology, peds etc.

You ARE working as a FNP even though you chose to do women's health.

Hello all, I wanted to leave an update as I was able to find some information from the director of Women's Health at my program in NJ: If you are trained as an FNP, you are not eligible to sit for the WHNP licensing exam. If you are licensed as an FNP, you are trained to meet Women's Health needs, but in order to keep your license in good standing you must work for 1000 hours/year as an FNP. Also, the WHNP is a much more extensive training, and as such, is better preparation. Having to work 1000 hours a year as an FNP makes it impossible to work full time as a WHNP. This is how it is in NJ, and is different from state to state. My school is in the process of integrating with another school which has a WHNP program, and hopefully they will integrate the WHNP program in. Otherwise I will have to transfer. Thanks to all for your help with this.
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**************, Director of Women's Health for Rutgers DNP program instructed me otherwise. Are you certain this is the case in NJ? ***************is a reliable source.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

Unless NJ is very different, she is most likely wrong. I'm licensed in 9 states and that is how it is in each of those states. Call the board and ask if a FNP works in a specialized area such as cardiology, women's health etc does that meet the hour requirements.

Don't take what she says (or me) as gospel. Get it from the horse's mouth.

Think about it, many FNP work in specialized areas. Do you really think they require those FNPs to work is some "primary care" clinic to meet the hour requirement?

**************, Director of Women's Health for Rutgers DNP program instructed me otherwise. Are you certain this is the case in NJ? ***************is a reliable source.
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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
************** Director of Women's Health for Rutgers DNP program instructed me otherwise. Are you certain this is the case in NJ? ***************is a reliable source.[/quote']

The 1,000 practice hours for renewal is an ANCC requirement; if you are working within your FNP scope be it primary care or WH or ONC or ED it all counts.

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Hello all, I wanted to leave an update as I was able to find some information from the director of Women's Health at my program in NJ: If you are trained as an FNP, you are not eligible to sit for the WHNP licensing exam. If you are licensed as an FNP, you are trained to meet Women's Health needs, but in order to keep your license in good standing you must work for 1000 hours/year as an FNP. Also, the WHNP is a much more extensive training, and as such, is better preparation. Having to work 1000 hours a year as an FNP makes it impossible to work full time as a WHNP. This is how it is in NJ, and is different from state to state. My school is in the process of integrating with another school which has a WHNP program, and hopefully they will integrate the WHNP program in. Otherwise I will have to transfer. Thanks to all for your help with this.

Just to clarify...I wasn't suggesting that if you had FNP certification that you would be able to sit for the WHNP certification exam.

Trauma posted a good link and the fact there are different interpretations as to what changes may (or may not) be adopted in the next couple of years. Always interesting to see things evolve!

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