One meaningful pathway for aspiring senior-level health care workers is in the field of women’s health.
“Women’s health” encompasses a broad range of critical health services, from prenatal, neonatal, and post-natal care to chronic health conditions that are more prevalent among females, like osteoporosis. Women’s health can also refer to screening, preventing, and treating certain types of cancer more common among females, like breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
In some parts of California – and particularly in rural areas – access to reproductive care can be limited, a shortage of resources that can have potentially dangerous effects on expecting parent and child alike.
In the following article, we’ll touch on some of the basics of becoming a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), a specialization within the larger field of becoming a senior-level nurse known as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
The Role of Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs)
WHNPs are essential partners for MDs, particularly gynecologists and primary care physicians.
As medical professionals, WHNPs’ primary focus is on supporting patient and doctor alike in providing comprehensive reproductive, gynecological, prenatal, and postpartum health care.
These skilled nurses can be seen as serving the role of intermediary between patient and doctor in women’s health settings, which can range from delivery to postpartum care, cancer screenings, and even regular check-ups.
Services Provided by WHNPs
With a wealth of knowledge related to health conditions specific to females, WHNPs are able to offer a meaningful range of services to patients.
These can include:
- Reproductive health care: In this context, WHNPs are valued support systems and educational resources for expecting and new mothers. With a breadth of knowledge about available contraception options, WHNPs can also provide counseling to people who are interested in finding the right birth control method for them. Finally, WHNPs are also able to help individuals or partners struggling with infertility, conducting evaluations and providing treatments as necessary.
- Gynecology: WHNPs are also essential in the field of gynecology. In this setting, WHNPs and gynecologists conduct pelvic and breast exams, pap smears, and routine physicals to screen patients for a range of health conditions. For patients who are experiencing symptoms related to menopause, WHNPs are a vital resource for providing more information, as well as helping patients access hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as needed.
- Managing chronic conditions: WHNPs are trained to support patients who may be experiencing pelvic disorders like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as other chronic conditions that tend to be more common in females, such as osteoporosis and heart disease. These medical professionals are also able to conduct screenings for patients for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). WHNPs are then also able to help patients access treatments for STIs, as well as education about sexual health and the effective prevention of STIs.
WHNPs are also able to act as counselors, providing vital information about health and lifestyle management.
Education and Certification Requirements in California to Become a WHNP
So, what does it take to become a WHNP in California?
To start, aspiring WHNPs need to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university. These degrees traditionally take four years to complete.
Next, nurses hoping to become WHNPs must successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) in order to officially become a Registered Nurse (RN) in California.You can choose to enroll in a BSN to DNP program, or another popular option is to first earn an MSN and then pursue a DNP degree.
MSN vs. DNP: What’s the Difference?
At this point, some nurses choose to remain RNs. Others seeking to eventually pursue more senior-level and specialized positions – including roles like becoming a WHNP – must then complete a graduate degree. While there is an effort underway to standardize which degree is necessary at this phase in the process, as of fall 2024, aspiring WHNPs can pursue either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
For decades now, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) have been working to standardize the DNP degree for aspiring senior-level nurses. This is to say: a sea change is taking place, making the DNP a more preferable terminal graduate degree than an MSN.
Today, these organizations have stated that they hope to replace the MSN with the DNP degree across the board by 2025. In fact, this is a shift that is currently underway: some programs have already transitioned graduate-level nursing students from MSN to DNP programs in order to seamlessly move them to this more standardized title.
Beyond the clerical, however, there are a number of material and meaningful ways in which a DNP degree would be beneficial to nurses hoping to find work in senior-level and leadership roles. DNPs typically earn higher salaries and have greater opportunities than lower-level nurses, benefits that can come with more recognition from peers throughout their field. This pathway is optimal for ambitious nurses eager to make a great income in California, a state where DNPs are able to earn particularly high incomes.
Upon completing the graduate degree program of their choice (MSN or DNP), aspiring WHNPs then typically spend one to two years building up experience as RNs in healthcare settings.
After Grad School, Final Certification and Licensing
Becoming a WHNP is a process that takes years of hard work, determination, and dedication.
But by this stage of the educational process, the end is in sight!
After graduating from an MSN or DNP program, aspiring WHNPs need to pass a certification exam focused on relevant fields like reproductive health and gynecology. This certification exam, known as the WHNP-BC exam, is typically administered by the National Certification Corporation (NCC). This certificate is valid for three years.
Without a certificate, aspiring WHNPs will not be able to become licensed nurse practitioners.
WHNPs will need to apply for licensure through the California Board of Registered Nursing. Equipped with this license and the final certification, WHNPs can officially call themselves Nurse Practitioners in California.
WHNP Programs in California
There are a number of advanced degree programs in nursing in California that offer specializations in women’s health, including:
- California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, CA)
- California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA)
- University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
- Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA)
- Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA)
Many WHNP programs, such as those offered by California State Universities Fullerton and Long Beach, combine online classes with in-person clinical placements. These hybrid formats are particularly beneficial for aspiring women’s health nurse practitioners who may have familial, financial, personal, or other reasons why a hybrid program is preferable to studying full-time and in person.
DNP Curriculum and Clinical Experience
For nurses planning to become women’s health nurse practitioners through DNP programs, it’s safe to assume that your coursework will include the AACN’s 8 DNP Essentials, as well as specialized topics related to WHNP studies. Additionally, nurses will have to complete around 500 hours of clinical experience and a final DNP project to graduate from a program with their desired certification.
The AACN’s 8 DNP Essentials
In the United States, DNP programs are structured around 8 essentials articulated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). These are:
- Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
- Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
- Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
- Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care
- Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
- Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
- Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
- Advanced Nursing Practice
Salary Expectations for Aspiring WHNPs in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners in California earn, on average, $161,540 annually, or around $78 an hour.
This is considerably higher than in other states: as of 2023, California is the highest-paying state for qualified nurse practitioners: Nevada came in a distant second, with an average annual salary of $148,670 – a difference of some $12,870 per year. The next three highest-paying states (Washington, New Jersey, and Oregon) also hover around $145,000. However, it’s important to note that the cost of living in California is also higher than in many other states.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2024.