Fascinated with women’s health issues? Known as a champion for holistic care? Now is the time to become a women’s health nurse practitioner. If you’re already committed to a DNP, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some background information on job responsibilities, WHNP certification, and the DNP curriculum, read on!
Becoming a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
The Modern Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners, known in the medical world as WHNPs, are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide comprehensive care to women of any age. Although they are especially concerned with reproductive and gynecological care, the range of their responsibilities encompasses:
- Well-woman care
- Perimenopause and menopause
- Prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care
- Family planning and fertility control
- Health assessment and disease prevention
- Acute and chronic illnesses, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, and eating disorders
- Substance abuse problems
- Spousal or sexual abuse
- Parenting behaviors and skills
- Health promotion, education, and counseling
On any given day, WHNPs may be teaching health education to teens, making house calls to women who miss prenatal appointments, seeing patients in OB-GYN clinics, or advising government policymakers. WHNPs are hyper-aware of ethical and legal concerns regarding women’s health, and work hard to produce holistic healthcare plans that take into account their patients’ concerns. Some WHNPs choose to practice in hospitals, hospices, primary care facilities, and clinics; others may work independently in private practice, correctional facilities, or government organizations.
WHNP Certification Requirements
After you earn your DNP, you may wish to consider the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC) certification from the National Certification Corporation (NCC).
Check with your State Board of Nursing to find out whether WHNP certification is necessary. DNP programs should clearly state that they are accredited and meet NCC requirements. If you can’t find the information on the program website, ask the school for its student pass rates on the WHNP certification exam.
WHNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license
- Earn a master’s, post-master’s qualification, or DNP from a women’s health nurse practitioner program that meets NCC requirements.
- Pass the WHNP-BC exam administered by the NCC (applicants must take the certification examination within 8 years of graduation).
- Maintain your certification through continuing education.
Please check the NCC website for further details on eligibility requirements. There is no minimum requirement for clinical practice hours for the WHNP-BC.
WHNP Essential Competencies
The NCC specifies a number of essential competencies that are covered in the certification exam. According to the NCC, WHNPs should be able to:
- Obtain general, obstetric, and gynecologic histories
- Perform screening, prenatal, and gynecological exams
- Obtain and interpret diagnostic studies and lab tests
- Provide management and education on women’s health, pregnancy, family planning, and fertility control
- Screen for high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications, and postpartum complications
- Identify and diagnose non-gynecologic and gynecologic deviations from normal and provide management, education, or referrals as needed
- Initiate pharmacologic therapy as appropriate
- Interpret scientific studies and identify ethical, legal, and professional issues
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Specialties (NCC)
- National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH)
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical DNP-WHNP Curriculum
Most WHNP programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually concentrate on areas such as obstetrics, adult gerontology, and primary care for women. Good schools will build their curriculum around AACN competencies. Thinking about WHNP certification? Ask if the courses and clinical work cover the NCC’s essential competencies.
When you’re comparing programs, look for DNPs that will expose you to a wide range of clinical training experiences. Working with diverse women patients (e.g. disadvantaged and multicultural populations) in a variety of settings (e.g. city hospitals, rural facilities, specialty clinics, administrative offices) will prepare you for a long and solid career.
In terms of coursework, you should expect to take APRN classes in advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, epidemiology, and advanced physical/health assessment, as well as content in health promotion, disease prevention, and differential diagnosis. Women’s health curricula often include courses in gynecology, obstetrics, and non-reproductive health problems. The rest of your time will be taken up with classes in DNP areas such as leadership, statistics, ethics, and healthcare policy. All of this work culminates in an independent DNP capstone project that combines your research work with evidence-based practice.
Experience Requirements
Experience requirements vary from program to program. In general, most schools will expect you to have at least two years of full-time clinical experience as an RN. Many of these RNs work in areas of maternal health or women’s health to get a feel for the field. A lot of schools will recommend you spend some time shadowing a WHNP before you make the decision to pursue a DNP.
Examples of DNP-WHNP Capstone Projects
- Barriers and Facilitators to Adherence to Follow-up for Abnormal Cervical Cytology: A Review of the Evidence with Implications for Clinical Practice (Ohio State University)
- Does Change in Pelvic Examination Sequence Promote Cervical Visualization Among Advanced Nurse Practitioner Students? (Texas Woman’s University)
- Effective Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction in Menopausal Women (Frontier Nursing University)
DNP Programs with a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Focus (DNP-WHNP)
23 schools
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- District of Columbia
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- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
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- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
Programs in Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-prepared nurses can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner in 10 semesters through the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The program uses a part-time distance-accessible format that allows nurses to continue employment while earning an advanced degree. Classes are delivered online, and students work with a preceptor during their clinical experiences. Each year, students are required to come to Birmingham for an on-campus intensive session. There's also an in-person orientation at the start of the program. The program prepares nurses to evaluate policy and use research evidence to improve health care delivery. Graduates are ready to take the WHNP certification exam.
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The Women's Health DNP program at the University of South Alabama allows BSN-prepared nurses to earn an MSN in WHNP during their DNP studies. Nurses who have an MSN in WHNP can earn a DNP in the same specialty area, and post-master's nurses with another specialty area can add the WHNP specialty during their DNP studies. The DNP program is offered online so that students can continue to work while earning an advanced degree. The regular MSN to DNP program requires 36 credits. DNP classes cover quality improvement, leadership, and evidence-based practice. A major focus of the program is a quality improvement project that substantially changes health care outcomes. Students can complete residency requirements for the project in their home community. BSN to DNP WHNP students complete 69 credits, including practicum experiences and WHNP residencies that total more than 1,100 clinical hours throughout the program.
Programs in Arizona
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State University uses a hybrid format for its DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. Students must come to the Phoenix campus for up to a week during orientation at the start of the 84-credit program. After that, they come to campus 2 or 3 times a semester for concentrated lab and seminar experiences. Between in-person meetings, classes are conducted online using varied modalities. Courses in the concentration include women's health promotion, common problems in women's health, and complex and chronic diseases in women. Classes in the DNP core cover leadership, health care policy, and evidence-based care. Students complete 1,125 practicum hours, and they are encouraged to work with disadvantaged and multicultural populations. Students who can't locate clinical sites in their community may complete their practicum in Phoenix. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA. A year of clinical experience in women's health is preferred.
Programs in Colorado
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has a BSN to DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner that requires 75 credits in didactic and clinical courses and 1,170 practice hours. Graduates are eligible for the national WHNP certification exam, and recent graduating classes have a 100% pass rate on the exam. In this track, students learn about women's health care needs from adolescence to older adulthood, including common acute and minor problems. They also learn to provide gynecological, prenatal, and postpartum care. Some courses are available online, but all WHNP candidates must complete their clinical placements in Colorado, so they must obtain a Colorado RN license. Students complete their women's health specialty classes in the first two years, then move on to work on the DNP project in the final four semesters.
Programs in District of Columbia
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
Georgetown University allows BSN-prepared nurses to pursue a DNP with a concentration in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner or a dual Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP concentration. The WHNP program prepares nurses to take the lead and manage teams providing care for women across the lifespan, including reproductive, prenatal, and postpartum care. The 69-credit program requires two on-campus intensives and 1,200 clinical hours. Students taking the dual concentration gain expertise in the primary and reproductive care of women and care of normal newborns. The 74-credit program requires three on-campus intensives and 1,100 practice hours. Full-time students can complete either degree in eight 15-week terms while part-time students can finish in 11 semesters. Graduates can take the certification exam as a WHNP, and dual-concentration grads can also seek certification in midwifery.
Programs in Illinois
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
The DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Illinois Chicago prepares practitioners who can provide gynecologic and primary care to women through the lifespan, including health promotion, pregnancy care, and fertility control. Nurses who also want to deliver babies can choose to earn a DNP in WHNP and Nurse-Midwifery. For individuals with a BSN, the WHNP program requires 87 credits, and the dual concentration requires 97 credits, including practicum experiences in birth and newborns. The UIC Nursing staff takes care of finding practicum sites and preceptors, matching students with specialty practices in areas such as infertility and family planning, gynecology, and urogynecology. Graduates have the knowledge base and experience required for the WHNP certification exam.
Programs in Massachusetts
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Direct Entry DNP - Women's Health[MSN required]
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Women's Health[BSN to DNP option]
Post-Master's DNP - Women's Health[MSN required]
RN to DNP - Women's Health[BSN to DNP option]
Boston College offers multiple entry points for individuals seeking a DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. In addition to programs for licensed nurses with an associate degree, BSN, or MSN, the college has an accelerated direct entry program that allows students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing subject to become an advanced practice RN and achieve a DNP. The required curriculum, number of credits, and practice hours vary based on previous experience. Most of these pathways offer a fall and spring enrollment option. Women's health majors can perform their clinical experiences in a variety of sites in the Greater Boston area. The Connell School of Nursing has partnerships with more than 85 agencies, including Brigham & Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts General Hospital, and community health centers and college clinics.
Regis College
Weston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ACEN
Regis College has online and on-campus options for nurses who want to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Women's Health NP. The online program is 100% online and offers three start dates a year. Women's health majors enroll in specialty classes that cover the care of women at all stages of life, including gynecological, obstetrical, and primary care. Students complete 600 clinical hours focused on gaining experience with women's health care needs and 400 hours devoted to the scholarly project. Regis DNP students take four classes designed to help them plan, implement, and evaluate a scholarly project in which they use evidence from research to solve a practice problem and improve the outcomes of their patients.
Programs in Minnesota
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The University of Minnesota has 2 pathways for the DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. Nurses with an MSN in WMNP can complete a 1-year, online DNP that requires them to come to campus once a semester for 4 days. The BSN to DNP program is a full-time, 3-year program. While classes are mostly online, students come to campus once a semester for 4 days of enhancement programs, advisor meetings, and specialty sessions. In the second and third years, students come to campus an additional 2 times per semester for coursework. Students also complete 1,000 hours at clinical sites arranged by the School of Nursing. The WHNP DNP includes primary care courses as well as classes on prenatal and postpartum care. BSN to DNP applicants may be eligible for a $20,000 Bentson Scholarship if they are pursuing their first advanced practice degree and plan to practice with underserved or rural populations.
Programs in Missouri
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with different levels of education can earn a WHNP DNP from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. One pathway is open to post-MSN nurses who already have advanced practice certification in women's health. There's another pathway for post-MSN students who want to obtain a new or second NP role as WHNP. A third pathway is for BSN-prepared nurses who want to become certified WHNP and earn the DNP. All pathways use an online/hybrid distance education format that may have synchronous and asynchronous elements. MSN to DNP students must come to campus at least once during the program. BSN to DNP students must come to the campus twice during the 74-credit program. BSN-prepared students can select a full-time, part-time, or fast-track plan of study, which all require 1,155 clinical hours and 90 lab hours. Students can arrange clinical rotations in their home communities. Applicants should have a 3.2 GPA.
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Missouri-St. Louis offers a DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner that has tracks for nurses with a BSN and board-certified APRNs with an MSN. The BSN to DNP program has a population focus on primary care women's and gender health. BSN-prepared nurses complete at least 600 practice hours in providing care to women. They also complete 400 practice hours devoted to a clinical scholarship project. The curriculum requires 70 credits in three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. The MSN to DNP in women's health is a 33-credit program that nurses can complete in two years of part-time study. Direct-care practice hours from the MSN may be applied toward the practicum requirement.
Programs in Nebraska
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The Women's Health DNP at the University of Nebraska focuses on advanced clinical expertise, patient safety, quality improvement, and health systems change. Nurses who have an MSN and WHNP certification complete a 36-credit program covering health care policy and economics, evidence-based practice, and leadership skills. They also complete an evidence-based project where they find a problem and use research to make improvements. Nurses in the BSN to DNP program also complete courses necessary to achieve the WHNP designation, including advanced health assessment and advanced pathophysiology. Classes directly related to women's health include primary care, acute care, and chronic care, along with required clinical rounds in each area. DNP students are admitted once per year, with MSN-prepared students entering in May and BSN to DNP students entering in August. MSN-prepared applicants should have a 3.4 GPA on their master's work, and BSN-prepared nurses should have a 3.0 GPA.
Programs in New Jersey
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey
Post Baccalaureate DNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses interested in women's health can earn a DNP in WHNP or a dual-focus in women's health and nurse-midwifery from Rutgers School of Nursing. The WHNP requires 68 credits and 1,130 practice hours, while the dual focus requires 78 credits and 1,355 practice hours. Classes for both programs meet at the Newark campus with some online components. Full-time students can complete the degree in 3 years, and a part-time plan of study is available. Both tracks include classes in gynecological care, primary care of women, and childbearing. Midwifery students also take classes in intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal care. Women's health majors can add an HIV care specialization with another 3 credits. For the DNP core, students learn to translate evidence to practice, gain leadership skills, and plan and implement a scholarly DNP project. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.2 and a New Jersey nursing license.
Programs in New York
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Advanced Standing DNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)[BSN to DNP option]
BS to DNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)[BSN to DNP option]
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University uses a hybrid format for its BSN to DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program. Most coursework is delivered online, but students must come to campus once a month for seminar days when they take part in assessments, leadership development, and networking events. The BSN to DNP program uses a cohort format that runs for seven semesters and requires 75 credits. Nurses who have a master's degree and are certified as a WHNP may enter with advanced standing, allowing them to earn the DNP in six semesters and with 40 credits. The program has an emphasis on evidence-based practice for improving the patient experience and the health of populations. The program encourages cultural diversity and prepares nurses to provide care for underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-holders with national certification as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner can earn a DNP at the University of Buffalo School of Nursing. The program uses an asynchronous online format. Part-time students typically finish the 36 required credits in 5 to 7 semesters. The curriculum is divided into 3 core areas. In the foundational core, students learn to interpret health care policy and study teaching in nursing. Analytic core classes prepare nurses for evidence-based practice, including applied informatics, evaluating research, and grantsmanship. The advanced practice core includes practicum experiences and the doctoral project. For the DNP project, students work 200 nonclinical hours preparing for and implementing their projects. Applicants must have the equivalent of an MSN, U.S. RN and NP licensure, and national certification in the WHNP specialty. Students should have an MSN GPA of 3.25 and those with a GPA under 3.5 must submit GRE or MAT scores.
Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Graduates of Duke University's BSN to DNP program receive both an MSN and a DNP. DNP and women's health specialty courses use an online format that may require students to come to campus once a semester for two- or three-day intensives. DNP students complete a capstone course to produce a scholarly project. Candidates work with a clinical site or health care system to plan, test, and evaluate an initiative designed to address a practice issue affecting patients or the health care organization. The women's health curriculum provides nurses with broad foundational knowledge and expertise in health concerns unique to women. Students get experience treating adolescent, adult, perinatal, and older adult patients. Women's health majors may be able to complete short-term clinical practices at international sites.
Programs in Ohio
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
Certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioners can complete a WHNP DNP in just 5 semesters of online study through Kent State University. The post-MSN DNP is a 34-credit program that uses a cohort format and requires students to complete a scholarly project to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes. Applicants must have national APRN certification and an MSN with a 3.0 GPA. Kent State's BSN to DNP in WHNP also offers all courses online and allows students to complete their practicum hours near their home. The program is structured so that nurses earn their MSN and are eligible to take the certification exam for WHNP in the first 2 years. (The recent graduating class had a 98% pass rate on the WHNP exam.) Students then finish the DNP in 1.5 to 3 years. BSN to DNP applicants must submit GRE scores and should have an undergrad GPA of at least 3.0.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
WHNP DNP students at Ohio State University come to campus for the specialty APRN coursework on women's health. All the DNP coursework is online, and most online classes have a synchronous component. At the start of the program, students take the specialty courses needed for the Women's Health Nurse Practitioner certification and the DNP clinical expert courses. The final phase includes DNP immersion experiences and the DNP project. Women's health majors complete a wide range of clinical experiences with preceptors at a variety of sites around Ohio. Students may gain experience at community-based primary care agencies that partner with the College of Nursing and at teaching hospitals associated with the Ohio State University Medical Center. The WHNP curriculum requires 82 credits and passing a comprehensive exam.
Programs in Pennsylvania
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice - Women's Health Gender Related Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who have a BSN can earn both a master's and a doctoral degree from the Jefferson College of Nursing when they enroll in the DNP in Women's Health Gender Related Nurse Practitioner program. Nurses complete the master's degree requirements before starting the doctoral work, which allows them to take the certification exam as a Women's Health NP. The doctoral portion of the program is adjusted to meet an individual student's desired pace and schedule. Students can complete the DNP in four years or take as long as seven years. Thomas Jefferson University allows nurses to enter the DNP program in the fall, spring, or summer semester. The college also offers a DNP track for nurses who already have an MSN in WHNP.
Programs in Tennessee
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
East Tennessee State University jointly sponsors a DNP in women's health program with Tennessee Technological University (TTU). The program is offered in a blended format that requires students to come to campus once a semester, and the intensive weeks meet at the TTU campus in Cookeville, Tennessee. The women's health program has tracks for BSN-prepared nurses who want to qualify as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and for nurses who have a master's and are certified as a WHNP. All candidates must complete a DNP project that translates evidence into practice. Projects can take a variety of forms, such as implementing changes in care delivery, creating a clinical practice guideline, or implementing a new technology such as telehealth.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing at Tennessee Tech (TTU) has Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in women's health for BSN-prepared nurses and nurses with an MSN. The program uses a hybrid format that requires students to come to Cookeville, Tennessee, two or three times a year. Nurses with a BSN must complete 87 credits and 1,100 clock hours, following a full-time or part-time plan of study. Specialized classes include pharmacology for women's health, gynecology, obstetrics, and care of the older woman. The MSN to DNP requires 35 credits and 500 practice hours. Candidates also complete a DNP project with a focus on evidence-based practice in women's health. The DNP program is jointly offered by TTU and East Tennessee State University, with the women's health program based at TTU.
Programs in Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who are interested in women's health can earn a DNP in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner or select a dual track in women's health and nurse-midwifery at the University of Utah. The women's health track is a 72-credit program that students can complete in eight semesters. The dual track doctorate is a 94-credit program that students can complete in nine semesters. Some of the specialized topics WH majors learn about include gynecological management, antepartum management, and well-woman health management. Students in the dual track also take classes such as management of intrapartum complications and care of the newborn. DNP candidates also create a scholarly project over three semesters when they decide on a concept, examine relevant research, design and implement the plan, and analyze results.
Programs in Washington
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP - Women's Health Clinical Nurse Specialist[MSN required]
Women's Health Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
The University of Washington School of Nursing offers a DNP track in Women's Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. Nurses in the specialty focus on caring for families throughout the childbearing cycle, from before conception through the pregnancy and birth to the early infant period. The BSN to DNP in Women's Health CNS is a three-year, full-time program that combines online coursework with regular meetings on campus. In the first year, students are on campus once a week, and in the second and third year, they are on campus one or two days a week. Students also work with a local clinical agency to complete a DNP project. Women's Health CNS graduates may find jobs such as XNS in a maternity unit or nurse manager.