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[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you can make a difference in women’s lives. Both certified nurse-midwives and women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNP) enjoy professional autonomy and high salaries.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This guide explains the certified nurse-midwife vs. women’s health nurse practitioner distinctions. Keep reading for the information you need to choose the career that fits your women’s healthcare goals.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Certified Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Key Similarities and Differences[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both certified nurse-midwives and women’s health nurse practitioners are APRNs who treat women. However, the scope of practice is different for these two professions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Certified nurse-midwives specialize in helping people prepare for pregnancy, through pregnancy, and during and after childbirth. Women’s health nurse practitioners care for pregnant people regardless of their pregnancy status, though they also provide care during pregnancy or after birth.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both certified nurse-midwives and women’s health nurse practitioners can diagnose conditions, order medical tests, and prescribe medications. Both degrees require at least a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/”]master of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (MSN) and passing the applicable board certification examination.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/”]certified nurse-midwife[/hen-ui-link] is an APRN who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth. They care for pregnant people during pre-pregnancy, throughout the pregnancy, and before, during, and after the birth. They have either an MSN or a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/dnp//”]doctorate of nursing practice[/hen-ui-link] (DNP) in nurse-midwifery. Certified nurse-midwives work in hospitals, standalone birthing centers, home healthcare, clinics, and other birth settings.[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/womens-health/how-to-become/”]Women’s health nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-link] have a more general training, since they treat women for all health conditions, not just pregnancy or even just for conditions specific to women, such as female fertility and menopause.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Certified nurse-midwives supervise births, which women’s health NPs do not have the licensure to do. Women’s health nurse practitioners can act as primary care providers, unlike certified nurse-midwives, and provide care for women throughout their lifespan, not just during pregnancy.[/hen-ui-text]
[/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What Does a Certified Nurse-Midwife Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While most people associate certified nurse-midwife work[/hen-ui-link] just with giving birth, nurse-midwives provide nursing care for patients seeking to become pregnant, who are pregnant, and who have recently given birth. Nurse-midwives also provide care during labor.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Key responsibilities include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Helping patients who plan to become pregnant or are struggling to become pregnant[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Educating women and family members on healthy pregnancies[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Helping patients prepare a birth plan[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Supervising births[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Providing parental and newborn care after birth[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Assisting in birth recovery[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What Does a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/womens-health/”]Women’s health nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-link] most often act as primary care providers, but can also act as specialists. While they have professional training in fertility and childbirth, they are still generalists who can diagnose and prescribe for all women’s health conditions, including all aspects of reproductive health and menopause. Their key responsibilities include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Assessing patients[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ordering medical tests[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Diagnosing health conditions[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Prescribing treatments[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Educating patients on health and wellness[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]
[/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Education and Certification[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both certified nurse-midwives and women’s health NPs are APRNs. They need an RN license, to earn an MSN or DNP, and pass the applicable board certification examination.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most have a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]bachelor of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (BSN), but many schools offer RN-to-MSN bridge programs for nurses with an ADN.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How to Become a Certified Nurse-Midwife[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/how-to-become-a-nurse-midwife/”]Becoming a certified nurse-midwife[/hen-ui-link] often takes six years of education: four years for a BSN and two years for the MSN. Most MSN programs require or strongly prefer at least one to two years of RN experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Certified nurse-midwives must earn board certification by graduating from an accredited MSN program and taking the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.amcbmidwife.org/amcb-certification” target=”_blank”]AMCB board certification examination[/hen-ui-link]. They need a current and unencumbered RN license to apply.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]After passing the board certification, nurse-midwives apply to the relevant state board, either the state board of nursing or board of midwifery, for licensure. States may have additional licensing requirements.[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How to Become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Becoming a women’s health NP also takes six years of education, and most schools require or prefer at least one to two years of experience as an RN.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The WHNP curriculum includes topics related to fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth, but also covers general health and medicine for women.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nccwebsite.org/certification-exams/details/8/women-health-care-nurse-practitioner” target=”_blank”]National Certification Corporation[/hen-ui-link] issues board certification. WHNPs must also apply for a state license from the state board of nursing. Depending on the state, they may have full practice autonomy, meaning independent work. Or the state offers restricted practice autonomy, meaning in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician.[/hen-ui-text]
[/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Looking at certified nurse-midwife vs. women’s health nurse practitioner salaries, the median salary for WHNPs is slightly higher. However, both offer a salary considerably above the $49,500 national median for all workers, according to the BLS.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading]
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”]$128,790[hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Average Annual Certified Nurse-Midwife Salary[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to the BLS, certified nurse-midwife jobs will grow 11% between 2024 and 2034, above the average for all occupations. Growth will be stronger in areas with higher demand, especially in states where the population is younger.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Factors affecting [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/salary/”]certified nurse-midwife salaries[/hen-ui-link] include experience, education level, additional certifications, local demand, and local cost of living.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Workplace settings can also affect salaries, with hospitals often paying the highest salaries (for all APRNs).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading]
[/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Certified Nurse-Midwife vs. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner: Which Career is Right For Me?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Making the certified nurse-midwife vs. women’s health nurse practitioner decision depends on your personal goals. Both have high salaries, professional autonomy, and a potentially satisfying career.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The required education takes the same amount of time and costs roughly the same amount. While the salaries are similar, the demand for WHNPs is higher. Of the two, only certified nurse-midwives can deliver babies.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you know you want to treat women but are not sure about if you want to specialize in fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth, becoming a nurse-midwife gives you more options.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Either way, if you change your mind after you graduate and practice, you can enroll in a post-graduate certificate program to earn the other specialization.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Emotionally, certified nurse-midwives experience more highs and lows, since they treat patients experiencing trouble becoming pregnant, or who lose a pregnancy or child. Sometimes their patients die during childbirth.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While women’s health NPs also treat women during difficulties and lose patients, their work is not inherently as emotionally charged. Either career offers emotional and financial rewards.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”]$106,280[hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Median Annual Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Salary[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While the BLS does not separate women’s health nurse practitioners from all NPs, it projects a 40% job growth rate for NPs between 2024 and 2034.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This is one of the fastest job growth rates in the nation, reflecting the high demand for healthcare professionals, especially primary care providers. For all APRNs, hospitals pay the highest salaries, followed by outpatient care centers and physician offices.[/hen-ui-text]
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