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Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Online Programs

Programs

Find your calling as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Herzing University offers unique pathways for current Registered Nurses (RN) to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and take the first step towards becoming a WHNP.

Women's health nurse practitioner discussing treatment options with patient
Women's health nurse practitioner referencing test results with patient
WHNP smiling while speaking with patient about treatment
Women's health nurse practitioner smiling in clinic
 

Advance to Women’s Health NP with Herzing University

AccreditationCCNE accredited, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
PathwaysUnique pathways for current RNs who hold an associate degree (RN to MSN), bachelor’s degree (BSN to MSN, BSN to DNP), or master's degree (MSN to post master's certificate)
Format100% online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experience
ClinicalsWe pledge your clinical placement; total clinical practicum hours vary by program
CertificationPrepare for the WHNP-BC exam from the National Certification Corporation
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Waived enrollment fee Classes start September 4th

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Discover your potential

Get in touch to learn more about our school and how we can help you reach your highest career goals.

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MSN Clinical Placement Pledge Herzing Badge

Your clinical placement is our pledge.

We understand securing clinical placement as part of a WHNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.

As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.

Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*

* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.

U.S. News & World Report Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate nursing programs in 2024.

CCNE Accreditation

The master's degree, post-graduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View all Herzing University Accreditations and Approvals.

Accreditation & Recognition

Our accredited & recognized online school

We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.

We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.

Scholarship Opportunity

You may be eligible for the Herzing University Nurses Circle of Achievement Scholarship.

Eligibility requirements include a minimum GPA earned in your undergraduate nursing program, and maintaining a minimum GPA throughout the MSN program.

You can potentially earn 10% tuition reduction!

Learn More

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our nurse practitioner programs as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Overall cost can be reduced through transfer credit from prior college coursework, scholarships and grantsloansVA and military benefits, and several additional options for financial aid.

With Herzing University, you are never alone, and we offer many options to help you invest in yourself, earn your master’s degree in nursing and become a leader in nursing.

  • Pathways to Success

    Many of our online programs offer pathways for continued learning, which allow you to move from one degree, such as an associate degree, to a bachelor’s degree, to a master’s degree.

  • Flexible and Convenient

    Earn your degree from the comfort of your own home. There are no designated times you must be online. You can log into your virtual classroom when it’s convenient for you.

  • Personalized Attention

    At Herzing, being online does not mean being alone.You’ll receive the same personalized attention and career-focused education that we offer in our traditional classroom.

  • Online and/or On-Campus

    Get the best of both worlds. Some of our degree programs are offered exclusively online and some programs are offered as a combination of both campus and online classes.

I don’t have a nursing degree. Where do I start?

If you have already earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, there are two potential educational pathways in nursing we’ve designed with you in mind:

  • Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. Our on-campus ABSN program, available at select Herzing campuses, allows you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 20 months (most students complete in 24 months).
  • MSN Direct Entry program. Start working towards a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) right from the start in our online direct entry MSN program. You can graduate in as few as 20 months.

If you have not yet earned an undergraduate degree in any major, you will need to first earn an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or BSN.

Once you’ve earned an undergraduate nursing degree, you can become eligible to enroll in an MSN, post master’s certificate, or BSN to DNP program with a WHNP specialization.

Nursing School Students with Nurse Teacher
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, an FNP is educated and trained to work with all types of patients across the lifespan, so they can potentially provide women’s health care. 

However, an FNP curriculum includes topics in adult, geriatric, and pediatric care which may not be as relevant for those focused on women’s health only. The FNP curriculum includes women’s health, but our WHNP curriculum greatly expands on this to provide greater preparation for success both on the WHNP certification exam and success in your first WHNP job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $128,490 per year ($61.78 per hour). Pay depends on many factors, including your location, what healthcare institution you work for and your level of experience.*

Discover the average nurse practitioner salary by state and find out what nurse practitioners make on average near you. Salaries can vary between specialties, and the BLS does not provide a specific estimate for WHNP.

A women’s health nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides holistic care for women from puberty through the adult lifespan. WHNPs concentrate their care on gynecologic, obstetric, sexual, and reproductive health. 

They provide care both individually and collaboratively as members of a healthcare team. WHNPs may consult with additional healthcare professionals regarding how non-gynecologic conditions (and their treatment) can impact reproductive and sexual health.

Learn more about general WHNP roles and responsibilities.

According to the 2018 NPWH Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce Demographics and Compensation Survey, the significant majority of WHNP describe direct patient care as their primary role (84%).

Some WHNP may work in academia, management/administration, research, or health policy/advocacy. 

However, at this time there are no separate certifications for different types of WHNP: only the primary WHNP-BC certification from the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for nurse practitioners are expected to grow by 45% from 2022-2032.* Given the projected growth in the baby-boom population the need for advanced medical care is expected to rise, and nurse practitioners will continue to be leaned on as primary contributors in this level of healthcare.

The 2018 NPWH Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce Demographics and Compensation Survey highlights several environments in which WHNPs practice, including:

  • Private practice offices
  • Community health centers
  • Hospital-based clinics
  • Academic medical centers
  • Schools and colleges
  • Correctional facilities
  • Inpatient settings
  • Patients’ homes

WHNPs may work in urban, suburban, or rural areas, and may also potentially provide telehealth services (remote care).

Precise scope of practice can vary by state and employer. The American Associate of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) provides a brief summary of the scope of practice common to all nurse practitioners.

You may have some initial questions about what a WHNP can and can’t do. For instance, can WHNP…

  • Write prescriptions? Yes, nurse practitioners may write prescriptions.
  • See male patients? Yes, some WHNPs may treat men. WHNPs are educationally prepared to care for individuals inclusive of sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • Deliver babies? No, only midwives or obstetricians (Obstetrics and Gynecology - OBGYN) can deliver babies.
  • Prenatal care? Yes, WHNP can provide pregnancy testing, fertility evaluation, prenatal visits, and postpartum care. 
  • Be called an “OBGYN” nurse practitioner? Some WHNP may be informally regarded as an OBGYN NP if their care focuses primarily on the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period. However, no WHNP has the same scope of practice as an OBGYN physician (or nurse midwife).
  • Do mammograms? No. WHNP can order mammograms but they do not perform the actual exams.

You’ll learn more specifics over the course of the WHNP program.

Both WHNP and certified nurse midwives (CNM) are advanced practice nurses with specialized roles for women, but they have unique focuses in terms of scope of practice.

Women’s health nurse practitioners specialize in providing primary health care to women across the lifespan, while nurse midwives are more focused strictly on the pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Midwives may deliver babies, but WHNP cannot.

Each has their own unique certification and educational requirements, as well as differences in salary potential.

Learn more about the primary differences between a WHNP and certified nurse midwife.

The goal is to fully prepare you for success in your work as a WHNP. Clinicals are completed as part of specialty WHNP courses to best establish concepts learned in didactic courses and immediately apply your learning to real-life direct patient care in a precepted clinical site.

Every student in the WHNP program is subject to a clinical proficiency exam after completing Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology. This ensures a strong foundational knowledge prior to entering the specialty clinical courses towards a WHNP.

There are benchmarks and assessments throughout the program to help ensure you’re on the right track. We work closely with every student to help them fully prepare for success as a WHNP. You are afforded the opportunity to learn and work with other women's health providers to gain real life knowledge and experience to prepare you as you enter your own practice.

The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health’s Guidelines for Practice and Education outline a large list of WHNP competencies across several important categories:

  • Client-centered care
  • Primary care
  • Women’s gynecologic, sexual, reproductive, menopause-transition, and post-menopause healthcare
  • Male sexual and reproductive healthcare
  • Obstetric care
  • Professional role

Disclosures

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

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