DNP Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
A Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) is a master’s or doctorally-prepared advanced practice nurse who provides advanced nursing care across the continuum of primary care, gynecologic, and obstetrical services. Care of the female patient from adolescence to the elderly and the male patient with sexual dysfunction, infertility, and sexually transmitted infection diagnoses are within scope of practice. The emphasis of care rests within health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, and health restoration.
All students in the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specialty are required to attend a one* Clinical Skills Intensive (CSI) during the fall term in which they are registered for MCN 538 and MCN 541. Instruction is provided by the USA Simulation Program.
The clinical skills intensive provides hands-on instruction for common advanced practice assessments and procedures pertinent to women’s health.
Students have the opportunity to request their preferred session on a first come, first serve basis. Simulation will contact students via Jag Mail with information on how to sign-up three months prior to the scheduled dates.
Please note the dates are for Clinical Skills Intensives only. The track coordinator may provide orientation dates, which are separate from CSI and Simulation.
BSN to DNP students and MSN to DNP students adding a certification in a new specialty must have two years of nursing experience in the area of Women’s Health Nursing prior to starting the clinical portion of their program.
The program does not require a thesis or dissertation; however, students are required to complete an evidence-based scholarly project that results in a quality improvement change and has a substantial effect on healthcare and patient outcomes. Residency requirements for the scholarly project can be completed in the student’s home region with an approved mentor.
BSN-DNP students complete all support, MSN specialty, DNP Core, DNP Project Planning & Development and Residency courses for a total of 69 credit hours. The following DNP core courses are required for the completion of the MSN degree: NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, and NU 613. Both MSN and DNP degrees must be completed within seven years. The MSN portion must be completed within the first five years of the program.
MSN-DNP students adding a new specialty must complete the support courses if they have not previously completed the courses in their MSN program. They must complete the specialty courses and support courses, if needed, to complete the Post-Graduate Certificate. The DNP core, DNP Project Planning & Development, and Residency courses are required for completion of the DNP degree. This program is a total of 60 credit hours or 69 credit hours if support courses are needed. The Post-Graduate Certificate must be completed within two calendar years. The student has seven years to complete both the Post-Graduate Certificate and DNP degree for this program.
| Curriculum |
|---|
| Support Courses |
| NU 518 - Advanced Nursing Assessment 3 credit hours |
| NU 545 - Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing 3 credit hours |
| NU 578 - Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses 3 credit hours |
| Women’s Health NP Specialty Courses |
| MCN 538 – Introduction to Women's Health NP 3 credit hours |
| MCN 541 – Health Promotion / Disease Prevention & Issues for Women's Health NP 2 credit hours |
| MCN 542 – Women's Health NP I 3 credit hours |
| MCN 543 – Women's Health NP Practicum I - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credit hours |
| MCN 544 – Women's Health NP II 3 credit hours |
| MCN 545 – Women's Health NP Practicum II - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credit hours |
| MCN 546 – Women's Health NP Practicum III - 240 Clinical Hours 4 credit hours |
| MCN 547 – Women's Health NP III 3 credit hours |
| DNP Core Courses |
| NU 607 - Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice 3 credit hours |
| NU 608 - Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare 3 credit hours |
| NU 610 - Healthcare Policy and Finance 3 credit hours |
| NU 613 - Organizational & Systems Leadership 3 credit hours |
| NU 611 - Translating Evidence Into Practice Systems 3 credit hours |
| NU 612 - Clinical Prevention and Population Health 3 credit hours |
| NU 615 - Quality Improvement and Outcomes Assessment 3 credit hours |
| NU 616 - Data Management & Decision Making in Complex Healthcare Systems 3 credit hours |
| Women’s Health NP DNP Project Planning & Development and Residency |
| MCN 644 - Women’s Health NP PP&D 3 credit hours |
| MCN 645 - Women's Health NP Residency I - 180 specialty clinical hours 3 credit hours |
| MCN 646 - Women's Health NP Residency II - 180 specialty clinical hours 3 credit hours |
| MCN 647 - Women's Health NP Residency III - 180 specialty clinical hours 3 credit hours |
The University of South Alabama Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program provides the skills necessary for a rewarding career. Graduates are eligible and prepared to complete the appropriate national certification exam and apply for licensure to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). It is the graduate’s responsibility to ensure the program meets the requirements to practice in their selected state or U.S. territory.
Contacts
Please feel free to contact Dr. Daphne Hutto for more information about this specialty: dhutto@southalabama.edu.