Basic description
Women’s health practitioners focus on primary care for women across the life span, from adolescence to the elderly. They may be prepared for basic nursing positions or as advanced practice nurses and provide services in hospitals and a range of primary care and community-based settings.
Educational requirements
Registered nurse preparation or advanced practice certification is required. Certification in various specialized women’s health and primary care nursing is available from the National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties.
Core competencies/skills needed
■ Ability to perform well-woman assessments
■ Instruction in self-breast examinations and breast health education
■ Knowledge of women’s health
■ Patient education
■ Ability to provide care to women across populations, social classes, and socioeconomic and age groups, and in urban, suburban, and rural settings
Related Web sites and professional organizations
■ National Association for Women’s Health (www.nawh.org)
■ Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (www.awhonn.org)
■ National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (www.npwh.org)
■ National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties (www.nccwebsite.org)