A women’s health nurse can work across a range of practice areas, from reproductive health to cardiology. See what nurses in women’s health do, their roles in different fields, and how a nursing degree through Mercer University’s ABSN track can set you up for career success.
Women’s healthcare focuses on meeting the unique health needs of women, spanning a range of practice areas. Cardiovascular health, bone health, and reproductive health are among the factors influenced by biological sex, and healthcare professionals are dedicated to providing excellent care to best meet the needs of each patient. Great strides have been made in this area, and a focus on competency in women’s health needs is important.
For those who want to enter the nursing profession, Mercer University’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track offers a faster educational pathway that can be completed in as few as 12 months while maintaining excellent standards.
Consider women’s health nursing, examine the difference it makes for patients, and learn how to become a nurse working in women’s health with Mercer’s ABSN.
What Does a Women’s Health Nurse Do?
Women’s health nursing is a broad category that incorporates multiple specialties, all aimed at providing the best possible care to women at all stages of life. Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who diagnose and provide care for women throughout their lives, but they are not the only healthcare professionals who meet women’s needs. Registered nurses (RNs) are involved in women’s health across areas including:
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bone health
- Breast health
- Cardiovascular health
- Menopause and aging
- Midwifery and labor and delivery
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Oncology
- Reproductive health
Women’s health needs differ from men’s and children’s in many ways, so care that addresses every aspect of health is required for the best outcomes. Mercer University’s ABSN track educates future nurses on how to meet the needs of all patients through a culture and curriculum that emphasizes quality of life.
See the difference that nurses make in healthcare across all areas, including women’s health.
Nurses can impact women’s health in the following practice areas:
The Role of Women’s Health Nursing in Maternal Care
Maternal care, reproductive health, and labor and delivery are all unique aspects of women’s health. Women’s health nursing plays a vital role in meeting the needs of women throughout all aspects of maternal care, especially when maternal mortality rates among certain groups have increased in recent years. Nurses in various roles can coach women and families throughout pregnancy, educating on what the patient will experience and advocating for the best care possible.
During the labor and delivery process, nurses help guide patients through childbirth. This can be one of the most challenging times in a woman’s life, and the nursing role of educator and advocate extends throughout the process. Nurse midwives can lead the process as experienced and comforting presences. Maternal care delivered through women’s health nursing extends beyond childbirth, with instructions on basic care or consultations on lactation.
The Role of Women’s Health Nursing in Cardiovascular Care
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and women’s unique cardiovascular needs require specialized and informed care. Biological differences mean that heart disease symptoms can present differently in women than in men, and women share certain sex-specific risk factors for heart disease throughout their lifespans.
Women currently experience a gap in cardiac care assessment and delivery. Risk factors that should prompt screenings or treatments are often not appropriately assessed or recognized, even by many cardiologists. Identifying heart disease risks and advocating for screenings is a crucial role that nursing can play in women’s health now and into the future.
The Role of Women’s Health Nursing in Geriatric Care
Proportionally, women make up a significantly higher number of older Americans. According to figures from the Administration for Community Living, there are six million more women aged 65 or older than men. As such, geriatric nursing as a practice area makes a valued impact on women’s health.
Geriatric nurses deliver care focused on general quality of life as well as specific factors for female patients. This can include consulting on diet and exercise, but it can also incorporate education and screenings on bone health and certain types of cancers with elevated risk profiles for women, like breast and colon cancer.
Why Choose a Career in Women’s Health Nursing?
With the keen difference that women’s health nursing makes in the lives of patients, this career path can be extremely rewarding. You will help guide women through some of the most significant experiences in their lives, providing the education and advocacy to calm anxieties and champion the best evidence-based care possible.
Many nursing specialties make an impact on women’s healthcare. Someone involved in this field can expect a salary in line with the average wage for their specific practice area and location. Nurses who specialize in these roles are in demand at facilities across the country, and nursing job security is high. Ultimately, those who feel drawn to nursing focused on women’s health will be able to make a difference within this chosen segment of the population.
How an ABSN Program Prepares You for a Career in Nursing for Women’s Health
Pursuing nursing for women’s health is worthwhile, and Mercer University’s ABSN track could be the right path for you to enter a variety of nursing roles, including those that focus on women’s health. You can enter many roles after attaining licensure, and a BSN provides a foundation to pursue a future advanced practice role as a WHNP.
Our ABSN track is designed for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students learn via a combination of:
- Online-based coursework through an interactive e-learning platform, allowing for flexibility while still meeting assignment deadlines
- Hands-on skills and simulation labs at our learning site that realistically mimic care scenarios in a mock clinical environment
- Clinical rotations at top area healthcare facilities throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area
Throughout the track, you will gain knowledge and experience to apply in your nursing career. After graduating, you can take the NCLEX to pursue RN licensure and begin working in one of the many roles that touch on women’s health.
Explore how a BSN can be the best nursing degree for your career goals.
Interested in A Nursing Career With Help From Mercer’s ABSN Track?
Pursuing the career path of women’s health nurse can be a meaningful choice if you want to help guide women’s care and treat patients through evidence-based practice. If this seems like the right choice for you, earning a nursing degree is the next step toward this goal.
Mercer University’s ABSN track in Atlanta offers three start dates in January, May, and August, and our comprehensive 12-month curriculum can help you enter your future career sooner. Reach out today to begin the conversation with an enrollment counselor.