Nurse practitioners with a focus on obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health are known as OB/GYN nurse practitioners. Registered nurses with advanced practice who have completed additional coursework and received specialized training in their professions make up this group of medical experts. If you’re considering a career in women’s health, the fact that many OB/GYN nurse practitioners have fulfilling careers and stable incomes makes this area a great choice. You will learn in this article what OB/GYN nurse practitioner does in their work, how much money they can make, how to get a job as one, and what qualifications they require.
What is an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner with a focus on the sexual and reproductive health of women is known as a gynecology and obstetrics nurse practitioner (OB/GYN NP) or OGNP. OGNPs concentrate on delivering general healthcare, access to birth control, and maternity care to women who are adolescent, childbearing, and elderly in age. Most OGNPs are nurse practitioners with a focus on women’s or family health (FNPs) (WHNPs). Some OGNPs have both certifications, demonstrating their extensive training and credentials.
What are the duties of an OB/GYN nurse practitioner?
OGNPs treat female patients of all ages, from adolescence to old age. They include preventative treatment, conception and pregnancy prevention, maternity management, annual examinations, and health screenings, as well as care for severe diseases and illnesses. To provide treatment for women, OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners frequently carry out a variety of the following tasks:
- Examination and observation of pregnant women
- Using abdominal and transabdominal ultrasounds to obtain measurements and keep an eye on fetal development and pulse rate
- Taking care of unusual and high-risk pregnancies and assisting patients in making difficult decisions
- Teaching people how to manage their health, prevent sickness, and practice good hygiene
- Monitoring health by conducting prenatal and fetal examinations
- Patient education on family planning, birth control, and other forms of contraception
- Aiding the expecting woman in controlling her discomfort and agony throughout pregnancy
- Helping OB/GYN doctors and midwives with deliveries
- Meeting conditions for continued learning and license renewal to keep one’s present licenses and certificates in force
OB/GYN nurse practitioners’ typical annual pay
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) can make an average pay of $118,029 annually, compared to nurse practitioners, who make an average of $115,821 annually. The earning power of an NP can be significantly increased by acquiring both an FNP accreditation as well as the OB/GYN nurse practitioner credential. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs), who perform a similar NP function, may expect to make around $124,456 per year. Moreover, the nationwide median pay for nurse practitioners in all disciplines might vary depending on the company, the location, the amount of experience, and the qualifications.
How to Become an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner
The actions listed below describe how to go after a career as an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner:
1. Train to work as a registered nurse (RN)
Every nurse practitioner begins their career as a registered nurse. You have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN). Since graduate programs in nursing frequently demand a BSN, many RNs decide to complete their degrees in this field. The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which grants you your RN license and enables you to practice, can be taken after earning your nursing degree.
2. Complete a nursing master’s degree
Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists are among the advanced-practice registered nurses that RNs can pursue after completing a master’s in nursing program (MSN). Obstetrics and gynecology-focused NPs often enroll in master’s programs with a strong emphasis on women’s reproductive health, clinical techniques, advanced health evaluation, and healthcare policy.
3. You might take the time to earn a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP)
Although a DNP is not necessary to become an OB/GYN nurse practitioner, having one can boost your income potential and show that you have an in-depth understanding of the area. If you decide to complete your DNP, you can opt to concentrate on both academic and practical applications. In addition to your four-year degree and the 2 years needed to get an MSN, a DNP can take as much as three years to finish.
4. Become certified in women’s health
You can pursue certification in women’s health once you have earned your MSN or DNP. The Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (WHNP-BC) certificate is provided by the National Certification Corporation (NCC), and it serves as proof of an NP’s expertise and qualifications as a working nurse in obstetrics and gynecology. WHNP-BC qualifications must be renewed every three years by NPs.
5. Obtain a state license.
Many states demand that nurse practitioners maintain active medical licenses to practice in any area of health care. You may be required to complete and pass a licensing exam through the state you intend to work to obtain employment in combination with your WHNP-BC and RN credentials. Understanding your state’s criteria for OB/GYN nurse practitioners is vital because some states may not need licensing.
6. Choose advanced certificates
OGNPs can choose from several advanced certifications, even though they are all optional. Think about obtaining certification in nurse-midwifery, maternal neonatal, inpatient obstetric nursing, or electronic fetal monitoring. By enhancing the certificates you already have from your nursing career, pursuing additional certificate programs can advance your career and increase your job prospects.
7. Alternative degrees
Non-traditional OB/GYN nursing students have additional alternatives as well. Licensed practical nurses without an RN licensure, an ADN, or a BSN are best suited for an LPN-BSN curriculum. These programs typically enable students to meet RN license requirements while applying their prior education and experience toward their bachelor’s degree.
For registered nurses (RNs) who already hold a diploma or an associate’s degree but wish to pursue a BSN, an RN-BSN program is appropriate. An RN-BSN curriculum also referred to as an expedited or bridge program regularly permits students to carry over their previous courses. As a result, it can speed up the bachelor’s degree completion process.
Key competencies for OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner effectiveness
To succeed in their careers, OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners in gynecology and obstetrics must cultivate a powerful combination of hard and soft skills alongside the specific healthcare and medical abilities they acquire during their education:
- Medical expertise: OB/GYN nurse practitioners are well-versed in women’s health issues and medicine. These professionals put these abilities to use by caring for and treating patients as well as assisting midwives and OB/GYN doctors.
- Technical expertise: Knowledge of computer programs may be required for nursing positions. Many of your technological abilities, including data input, computer communication, and keeping records organized in a clinical network, may be required at work.
- Psychological skills: NPs should be able to establish relationships with the wide spectrum of patients of all ages with whom they deal. To create trust with their patients and give them the best care possible, NPs need to have strong interpersonal skills.
- Problem-solving abilities: OB/GYN nurse practitioners must have the ability to solve problems effectively to guide patients through difficult decisions, offer crisis counseling, and assist midwives and doctors in creating successful treatment and care plans.
- Communication skills: NPs must possess outstanding nonverbal and verbal communication abilities when listening to patients’ problems, establishing a rapport with patients through discussion, and providing patients with medical information that is simple to understand.
What do Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health Need to Learn in Continuing Education?
Depending on the state of licensing, CEU hours will change. CEU hours will be necessary for each state that an individual holds a license in. NPs often have to complete at least 75 contact hours of ongoing education in the specialization (orthopedics).
They must also keep their RN certification even when they are working in an APRN capacity. An individual must submit an application, accomplish a predetermined amount of CEU hours, and pay a small cost to renew their RN licensure. It is crucial to verify with the nursing licensing board before applying for license renewal because each state has different requirements.
Working in an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner environment
You can seek a job in an OB/GYN setting after getting your RN license, typically without certification. Here are a few possible job paths:
1. Nursery nurse
Average pay: $18,000 US
Nurses that specialize in caring for infants work in inpatient units, outpatient clinics, or neighborhood health centers. To evaluate, treat, and supervise infants and babies, they frequently collaborate with gynecologists, physicians, and labor and delivery nurses.
2. The OB/GYN clinic nurse
Average pay: USD 43,000
To offer women’s reproductive and medical needs, OB/GYN office nurses typically work in a private OB/GYN clinic. Initial evaluations, getting patients ready for tests, and offering gynecological education and care are common duties.
3. Nurse in labor and delivery
Average pay: 68K US dollars
Nurses who work in labor and delivery must be certified in specialized areas of care, like fetal tracking and neonatal resuscitation. During labor and delivery, these RNs give nursing services to pregnant women. They create treatment regimens, provide patients with education and assistance, and keep an eye on infants.
4. Maternity nurse
Average pay: 67,500 USD
Women are cared for by perinatal nurses throughout their pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum periods. They frequently give advice, teach birthing seminars, and provide support to patients and their families regarding the unborn child. They are employed by clinics, obstetrical facilities, and hospitals.
What are the Job Prospects for a Nurse Practitioner in Women’s Health?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the future of NP careers is quite bright. In the United States, there were 300,000 nurse practitioners as of 2021, but 118,600 more are anticipated to be needed by 2031. This growth is by 40%.
In addition, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there will be a shortfall of up to 22,000 obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) by 2050, up from a shortage of up to roughly 9000 in the current year. Female nurse practitioners will fill that gap.
Possible career paths for OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners
Graduates of OB/GYN RN programs may pursue the following possible career paths:
1. Nursing clinical research
Average wage: USD 73,000
In labs, research institutions, and hospitals, clinical research nurses carry out research that is grounded in the latest scientific findings. Usually, studies are created to provide information about immunizations, novel drugs, and medical procedures.
2. Nurse practitioner for women’s health
Average pay: USD 96,000
Patients of all ages receive thorough primary healthcare from WHNPs. They frequently decide to concentrate on prenatal, postnatal, and gynecological care. They can work without a supervision of a physician and write prescriptions in some states.
3. Nurse practitioner in OB/GYN
Average pay: USD 98,000
These specialists commonly referred to as OGNPs, frequently concentrate on enhanced primary care services. Preventive care, female reproductive and sexual health, pregnancy prevention, fertility, and pregnancy management are among their main areas of interest.
4. Executive nurse director
Average wage: USD 136,500
Typically, CNOs in a hospital setting supervise staff, uphold compliance, and oversee nursing duties. They are frequently in control of the finances, supplies, and plans for patient care. CNOs may also oversee training and orientation initiatives for nursing personnel.
Accreditation
Nursing education schools are held to high standards of excellence across the nation thanks to accreditation. Programs that meet specified requirements are evaluated and approved by accreditation authorities.
The majority of colleges won’t let you transfer credits from a course that hasn’t been approved by an accreditation authority.
A program that complies with a set of criteria endorsed by the United States Education Department is said to be nationally accredited. A program is only authorized in the state in which it has received state board accreditation.
The majority of colleges won’t let you transfer credits from a course that hasn’t been approved by an accreditation authority. In this situation, employers can also reject your qualifications.
Because of this, it’s crucial to do your research and confirm that any program you select has received accreditation from a credible body. Principal accrediting organizations are:
- American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation (ACNM)
- Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Cost of a degree
A degree’s price varies depending on several variables. The cost of your education is influenced by the school you attend, the degree you select, or if you study full- or part-time. Online, hybrid, and accelerated degree courses could be more affordable than conventional on-campus education.
At a public four-year university, the annual average tuition and expenses for a full-time student are:
- Undergraduate degree: $8,760
- Master’s degree: $8,760
- Doctoral degree: $11,440
The following are the typical tuition and fee charges for a private, nonprofit four-year institution per year:
- Bachelor’s degree: $37,500
- Master’s degree: $29,760
- Doctoral degree: $44,910
Financial assistance
All main levels of nursing students may be qualified to request financial assistance, grants, or scholarships from their school. Additionally, government and non-profit organizations may offer nursing students scholarships, work-study opportunities, loan forgiveness plans, and other types of financial aid. A few prospective prospects are listed below:
- Free Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA)
- US-based Red Cross Jane Delano Nursing Scholarship for Students
- Scholarship from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
- A Nurse I Am Scholarship
- Francis Anthony Beneventi Scholarship for Medicine
Conclusion
Female patients of all life stages are primarily cared for by OB/GYN nurses. Their main areas of emphasis include pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. OB/GYN nurses have a wide range of employment options and career options accessible to them.
They have the choice of advanced career paths with increased earning potential, including non-clinical and senior leadership jobs, and the option to practice as OB/GYN or women’s health nurse practitioners. OB/GYN nurses could also focus on particular areas like conception, midwifery, or neonatology.
Frequently Asked Questions about OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners
- What does a nurse practitioner in women’s health do?
An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with a focus on women’s health has had extensive specialized training. They concentrate on problems that are specific to women, as well as on promoting health, preventing disease, educating people about health, and assisting women in leading healthy lives.
- What is an NP who specializes in women’s health capable of?
Women of all ages’ reproductive, maternal, and gynecological health are the main emphasis of a women’s health nurse practitioner. Women’s Health NPs offer gynecological care, pregnancy prevention, detection and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, management of low and high-risk pregnancies, and general medical care. In addition to managing healthcare, they can also prevent diseases and promote good health.
- How much money do nurse practitioners in women’s health make?
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners earn an average salary of $133,649 a year, according to Glassdoor.com.
- Can a nurse practitioner in women’s health deliver babies?
Yes, a Women’s Health NP is capable of giving birth. In certain areas, they are permitted to give birth on their own, but in others, a doctor or certified midwife must be present.