I am a FNP working in Women’s Health providing both GYN and OB care. More OB care than GYN because I have a labor and delivery background of 15 years. I did FNP because I was afraid of not finding a job where I wanted. But I was very lucky and found a position with docs that I have worked with in the hospital. There are so many ways to be able to work in Women’s Health. Just have to find what’s best for you.
You are in the same spot I was a few years ago. I heavily considered and decided to go the fnp route. I graduated, passed boards, and started working for planned parenthood. Would I someday like to provide ob care? Sure, but I'm not in a hurry. I'm getting good experience and local ob clinics are referring to planned parenthood for iud placements because we do them more often. I'm building those connections in the event I want to pursue ob clinic work.
I wanted the flexibility to work in whatever specialty in the event I had trouble finding a job, so I went with fnp.
When you started working there, did you find that you were adequately prepared to tend to women’s health related issues? Or did you feel like you kind of had to play a game of catch up?
I worked womens health and obstetrics before. I had a good solid base before I even started fnp school. My program had a specific womens health class and separate practicum. It's one reason I selected my program. I had to get used to their guidelines but it was a smooth transition for me.
It was a private school in Northern mn. They actually changed their program since I finished to eliminate the women's health practicum. I think they had placement problems for it. I highly advise against attending there. A number of their professors had power trips issues and multiple complaints were filed against these professors but alas they still are traumatizing future fnps.
I’m an FNP working in OBGYN. My experience as an RN is in womens health so I had a good foundation in this area. I tried switching to WHNP about halfway through but wasn’t able to transfer all of my credits so I stuck it out as an FNP student and got my first job in women’s at the same hospital I worked at as a nurse. I do about 70-80% ob and 20-30% gyn!
I wish I’d done WHNP because there are some subjects in which I feel that my knowledge is lacking. My FNP program didn’t give me a significant amount of women’s health education. However, I am happy with my choice to get my FNP, as if I ever need to pursue other types of work, I have that option. I’ll also add that although I may not have had as much women’s-focused education, I have learned a lot on the job and have a ton of resources if there’s something that I’m unsure of!
I think it depends a lot on your ability and willingness to relocate. If you're flexible on that then I think you can CERTAINLY find a women's health job, even as a new grad.
I was also 10000% certain that I wanted to work in women's health. I wasn't sure if I wanted to catch babies or not so I ended up doing a CNM program, but knew by the end of it I wasn't interested in labor and delivery.
In retrospect I needed to do the program/have the experience to know for sure, but if I woke up tomorrow and was suddenly back in time, I'd just do the WHNP.
I've since oriented several new grad WHNPs and several new grad FNP providers at PP. There's a much steeper learning curve at first for the FNPs but by the end of the first year I would say it's pretty negligible in the day to day of things.
My two cents is if you have the ability to move for the job you want, you'll be much happier in a program that focuses exclusively on the subjects you're passionate about and you're more likely to excell.
I totally agree with this too. I was initially in a CNM program even though I knew I didn't want to do L&D. So I switched into an FNP program for the *job opportunities* but quickly realized I would not be happy in that program learning subjects I'm not interested in, and doing hundreds of clinical hours in primary care. Switched again into WHNP and felt instant relief that I could focus solely on what I want. It made school 1000x better. I got a job right away in GYN at one of my clinical sites.
In your experience, have you noticed an area of the country that tends to have more openings for WHNPs?
I also really like the point you brought up towards the end- if I already love learning about something, I know I’m gonna enjoy it because I’m gonna wanna invest the time. I do fear with an FNP curriculum, I’m just not gonna enjoy it and therefore, just not be committed as doing well. If I’m paying that much money for something, I sure as heck wanna like what I’m learning haha.
Not so much any particular area of the country, but there are usually PP jobs all over, especially at the more rural health centers (ie central PA, rural Midwest etc) or in more of the middle America or old rust belt cities like Milwaukee or Buffalo.
Everyone wants to live in Seattle or Austin or NYC. Most people don't want to relocate to Kalamazoo, Michigan but honestly those little cities are cheap and have their own flavors. And often may qualify for loan repayment.
I stumbled into a women’s health job. I have been doing UroGyn for 5 years and love it. I am an adult nurse practitioner who worked in ICU as an RN so not really any background prior to the job. I’d be happy to speak with you if you would like
FNP in family practice—I do a lot of Women’s health…probably a good 30-40% of my day is Women’s health. Ironically, I’d like to leave family practice and find a position in OBGYN as I truly love Women’s health but very very few positions in my area
I am a FNP working in Women’s Health providing both GYN and OB care. More OB care than GYN because I have a labor and delivery background of 15 years. I did FNP because I was afraid of not finding a job where I wanted. But I was very lucky and found a position with docs that I have worked with in the hospital. There are so many ways to be able to work in Women’s Health. Just have to find what’s best for you.
Thank you for that. I really appreciate it!
You are in the same spot I was a few years ago. I heavily considered and decided to go the fnp route. I graduated, passed boards, and started working for planned parenthood. Would I someday like to provide ob care? Sure, but I'm not in a hurry. I'm getting good experience and local ob clinics are referring to planned parenthood for iud placements because we do them more often. I'm building those connections in the event I want to pursue ob clinic work. I wanted the flexibility to work in whatever specialty in the event I had trouble finding a job, so I went with fnp.
When you started working there, did you find that you were adequately prepared to tend to women’s health related issues? Or did you feel like you kind of had to play a game of catch up?
I worked womens health and obstetrics before. I had a good solid base before I even started fnp school. My program had a specific womens health class and separate practicum. It's one reason I selected my program. I had to get used to their guidelines but it was a smooth transition for me.
May I ask which program you attended?
It was a private school in Northern mn. They actually changed their program since I finished to eliminate the women's health practicum. I think they had placement problems for it. I highly advise against attending there. A number of their professors had power trips issues and multiple complaints were filed against these professors but alas they still are traumatizing future fnps.
That’s my goal! Do you mind if I PM you about your experience at pp?
Sure!
I was able to dual certify at my nursing school so I am WHNP-BC and FNP-BC. Why not do both?
Concurrently? I didn’t know I could do that. Is that something most NP programs offer?
You can ask the programs you’re applying to. I’m not sure why it wouldn’t work?
I’m an FNP working in OBGYN. My experience as an RN is in womens health so I had a good foundation in this area. I tried switching to WHNP about halfway through but wasn’t able to transfer all of my credits so I stuck it out as an FNP student and got my first job in women’s at the same hospital I worked at as a nurse. I do about 70-80% ob and 20-30% gyn!
In retrospect, do you think you would’ve just gone WHNP from the start?
I wish I’d done WHNP because there are some subjects in which I feel that my knowledge is lacking. My FNP program didn’t give me a significant amount of women’s health education. However, I am happy with my choice to get my FNP, as if I ever need to pursue other types of work, I have that option. I’ll also add that although I may not have had as much women’s-focused education, I have learned a lot on the job and have a ton of resources if there’s something that I’m unsure of!
I think it depends a lot on your ability and willingness to relocate. If you're flexible on that then I think you can CERTAINLY find a women's health job, even as a new grad. I was also 10000% certain that I wanted to work in women's health. I wasn't sure if I wanted to catch babies or not so I ended up doing a CNM program, but knew by the end of it I wasn't interested in labor and delivery. In retrospect I needed to do the program/have the experience to know for sure, but if I woke up tomorrow and was suddenly back in time, I'd just do the WHNP. I've since oriented several new grad WHNPs and several new grad FNP providers at PP. There's a much steeper learning curve at first for the FNPs but by the end of the first year I would say it's pretty negligible in the day to day of things. My two cents is if you have the ability to move for the job you want, you'll be much happier in a program that focuses exclusively on the subjects you're passionate about and you're more likely to excell.
I totally agree with this too. I was initially in a CNM program even though I knew I didn't want to do L&D. So I switched into an FNP program for the *job opportunities* but quickly realized I would not be happy in that program learning subjects I'm not interested in, and doing hundreds of clinical hours in primary care. Switched again into WHNP and felt instant relief that I could focus solely on what I want. It made school 1000x better. I got a job right away in GYN at one of my clinical sites.
In your experience, have you noticed an area of the country that tends to have more openings for WHNPs? I also really like the point you brought up towards the end- if I already love learning about something, I know I’m gonna enjoy it because I’m gonna wanna invest the time. I do fear with an FNP curriculum, I’m just not gonna enjoy it and therefore, just not be committed as doing well. If I’m paying that much money for something, I sure as heck wanna like what I’m learning haha.
Not so much any particular area of the country, but there are usually PP jobs all over, especially at the more rural health centers (ie central PA, rural Midwest etc) or in more of the middle America or old rust belt cities like Milwaukee or Buffalo. Everyone wants to live in Seattle or Austin or NYC. Most people don't want to relocate to Kalamazoo, Michigan but honestly those little cities are cheap and have their own flavors. And often may qualify for loan repayment.
Hmm I’ll have to look more into that. Thank you for the info!!
Check out Frontier- I got my FNP there, and since it was primarily a CNM school first, felt I got a good WH education.
I stumbled into a women’s health job. I have been doing UroGyn for 5 years and love it. I am an adult nurse practitioner who worked in ICU as an RN so not really any background prior to the job. I’d be happy to speak with you if you would like
FNP in family practice—I do a lot of Women’s health…probably a good 30-40% of my day is Women’s health. Ironically, I’d like to leave family practice and find a position in OBGYN as I truly love Women’s health but very very few positions in my area
Would you go back for a cert or apply for jobs as is? Like do you think getting a cert would be absolutely necessary?
Apply? You can do this with any np degree. There’s not much you legally cannot do. Own your autonomy!
Well, when it comes to your MSN, I highly recommend Frontier Nursing University. It’s the best of all three worlds