Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Nurse working with patient in Labor and Delivery

 

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A Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) is a master’s or doctorate-prepared advanced practice nurse who provides advanced nursing care across the continuum of primary care, gynecologic, and obstetrical services.  Care of the female patient from adolescence to the elderly and the male patient with sexual dysfunction, infertility, and sexually transmitted infection diagnoses are within scope of practice. The emphasis of care rests within health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, and health restoration.

▼   Support Courses
Students applying for a new certification must complete Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Life Span if the student has not yet taken them.
▼   Clinical Experience

Students adding a certification are encouraged to have nursing experience in the area of Women’s Health Nursing prior to starting the clinical portion of their program.

▼   Advanced Practice Clinical Skills Intensive

All students in the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specialty are required to attend a one* Clinical Skills Intensive (CSI) during the fall term in which they are registered for MCN 538 and MCN 541. Instruction is provided by the USA Simulation Program.

The clinical skills intensive provides hands-on instruction for common advanced practice assessments and procedures pertinent to women’s health.

Students have the opportunity to request their preferred session on a first come, first serve basis. Simulation will contact students via Jag Mail with information on how to sign-up three months prior to the scheduled dates. 

Please note the dates are for Clinical Skills Intensives only. The track coordinator may provide orientation dates, which are separate from CSI and Simulation.

Women’s Health NP Clinical Skills Intensive Dates 

▼   Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

BSN-MSN students complete all support, MSN core, and MSN specialty courses for a total of 45 credit hours.  The MSN degree must be completed within five years of matriculation.

Curriculum
Support Courses
NU 518 - Advanced Nursing Assessment 3 credit hours
NU 545 - Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing 3 credit hours
NU 578 - Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses 3 credit hours
MSN Core Courses
NU 607 - Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice 3 credit hours
NU 608 - Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare 3 credit hours
NU 610 - Healthcare Policy and Finance 3 credit hours
NU 613 - Organizational & Systems Leadership 3 credit hours
Women’s Health NP Specialty Courses
MCN 538 – Introduction to Women's Health NP 3 credit hours
MCN 541 – Health Promotion / Disease Prevention & Issues for Women's Health NP 2 credit hours
MCN 542 – Women's Health NP I 3 credit hours
MCN 543 – Women's Health NP Practicum I - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credit hours
MCN 544 – Women's Health NP II 3 credit hours
MCN 545 – Women's Health NP Practicum II - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credit hours
MCN 546 – Women's Health NP Practicum III - 240 Clinical Hours 4 credit hours
MCN 547 – Women's Health NP III 3 credit hours
RN to MSN students who are registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a non-nursing discipline must also complete the following courses.
RN-MSN Courses
NU 506 - Evidence-Based Practice & Informatics for Professional Nurses 4 credit hours
NU 507 - Leadership & Management Roles for Professional Nurses 4 credit hours
NU 508 - Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Professional Nurses 4 credit hours
▼   Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Certification

The University of South Alabama Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program provides the skills necessary for a rewarding career. Graduates are prepared to complete the appropriate national certification exam and may be eligible to apply for licensure to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Contacts

Please feel free to contact Dr. Daphne Hutto for more information about this specialty:  dhutto@southalabama.edu.