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Advanced Certificate Program: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

The Advanced Certificate in Women's Nurse Practitioner program is designed for registered nurses with Master of Science degree in nursing or in one of the advanced practice nursing roles. The program prepares registered nurses with the advanced theoretical knowledge, clinical judgment, and diagnostic skills that lay the foundation for the care of women throughout the lifespan.

Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP) provide comprehensive, culturally sensitive primary health care, though a holistic perspective that emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention to women throughout the lifespan. The WHNP is prepared to implement evidence-based practice guidelines, critically analyze and implement health care interventions based on individualized assessments of women's health care needs. The WHNP practices with advanced knowledge, and awareness of the specific needs of women from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. A primary emphasis of this advanced practice role is a holistic approach to management of women's health, which is facilitated through interdisciplinary collaboration.

As advanced practice nurses, WHNPs perform comprehensive health assessments; conduct risk analyses; provide client education and counseling to promote wellness and prevent disease; diagnose and treat common health problems and acute and chronic conditions. The primary focus of the care provided by Women's Health Nurse Practitioners is in the area of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The curriculum of the WHNP program is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Essentials document, delineating the outcomes expected of all graduates of master's nursing programs. It also reflects the recommendations of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE). It also meets the guidelines of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health.

The program (35 credits) is designed to be completed in five semesters. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for licensure in New York State and to sit for the national certification examination given by the National Certification Corporation (NCC), which is the certifying body for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal advanced practice nurses. All Students must hold a master’s degree, APRN state certification with the speciality in WHNP.