Women’s Health/Certified Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner Programs

Nurse Practitioner Programs: United States

Sep 26

What is a Women’s Health/Certified Nurse Midwife NP?

In the United states nurse practitioners are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). There are several NP specialty programs to choose from. Women’s health NPs (WHNPs) focus on reproductive, gynecologic, and obstetric health across the lifespan. WHNPs provide preventive care, family planning, prenatal and postpartum care (non-delivery), and manage conditions such as menstrual disorders, infertility, and menopause.

Certified nurse midwife (CNM) NPs specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. CNMs provide gynecologic and reproductive health services like WHNPs, but also attend births, manage labor and delivery, and provide newborn care. There are women’s health + certified nurse midwife NP dual programs available.

In many U.S. states, WHNPs/CNMs practice independently, which expands access to care in both urban and rural areas. However, the scope of practice can vary depending on the state. For example, some states are considered full practice, allowing them to operate independently, while others are reduced or restricted practice, requiring physician supervision or collaboration.

Where do Women’s Health NPs/Certified Nurse Midwifes work?

A variety of settings, and this varies by state of course. Some examples include:

Women’s health NPs: Family planning/OBGYN clinics, inpatient maternity wards, emergency rooms (providing gynecological/ob care), community health settings (e.g. clinics)
Certified nurse midwife NPs: Family planning/OBGYN clinics, inpatient maternity wards, birthing centers

How do I become a Women’s Health/Certified Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner?

If you are thinking of becoming an NP, I highly recommend reading this post on different pathways to become an NP. After getting a BSN, you need to become a registered nurse. From there, gain as much experience as possible. If you decide to pursue an women’s health/certified nurse midwife degree, most programs will mandate you have relevant experience - so it’s important to look ahead to the future to ensure your RN experience is relevant for any future NP program. There are many different degree pathways to become an NP. Here is a visual representation of what your journey may look like:

how to become a nurse practitioner in the united states picture

Women’s Health NP / Certified Nurse Midwife Curriculum

Each program consists of a combination of clinical and non-clinical course work, plus clinical placements. Here is an example of the California State University, Fullerton WHNP/CNM MSN program (snap shot):

Theoretical and Research Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice
Advanced Pathophysiology: Clinical Implications for Nurses
Advanced Health Assessment
Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
Advanced Pharmacology: Prescriptive Authority
Professional Role for the Advanced Practice Nurse as a Midwife or Nurse Practitioner
Primary Care of Women I: Family Planning/Gynecology
Basic Women’s Health Care Practicum

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Becoming a WHNP/CNM - Different Tracks to Choose: MSN, post-masters certificate, and DNP

In the United states, there are several programs. Either you can pursue a WHNP program, or a dual WHNP-CNM program. But first, it’s important to define some terms:

BSN: bachelor's of nursing science (undergraduate degree)
MSN: masters of nursing science (masters graduate degree)
MN-NP: combined maters + nurse practitioner degree (masters graduate degree)
DNP: doctor of nursing science (some schools offer with an NP specialty) (doctoral graduate degree)
Post-masters certification: an additional certification (like an NP speciality) someone gets after completing a masters of nursing degree

When applying for an PPCNP program, there are 4 tracks offered. Not all universities offer every track:

Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty (MN-NP or MSN)
Post-masters NP (sometimes referred to as post-masters certificate)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP) with an NP specialty
Masters of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP) with an NP specialty

Let’s break these down:

MN-NP programs: these are for students who do not have a master’s degree in nursing. Courses are a blend of masters & clinical courses, to prepare you to become an NP.
Post-masters programs: you require a master’s degree in nursing to apply for a post-masters program. Programs focus on core NP clinical courses to prepare you to become an NP.
BSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.
MSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.

The path you choose will be unique to you. Some decide to pursue an MSN NP degree, others decide to go right from a BSN degree to a doctoral level NP program (DNP), designed for hands-on clinical practice and leadership, with an emphasis on translating research and evidence into improved patient outcomes (this is different from a PhD in nursing). Now let’s get into different program offerings across key states.

Most programs offer part and full time options.

Women’s Health / Certified Nurse Midwife Programs

While several states offer programs, I will focus on the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.