care nurse practitioner that includes a focus on providing care for conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their lives, and reproductive health care for men. Depending on the work setting, a women’s health nurse practitioner could perform the following duties: I am an adult NP and am wondering how to figure out where my scope of practice ends with regard to women's health, specifically pregnancy. A Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) is an advanced-practice registered nurse who specializes in the comprehensive care of women throughout the lifespan. Currently I handle all kinds of women's health issues, do pap smears, prescribe birth control and certainly diagnose pregnancy. pediatric nurse practitioner puerperium scope of practice women’s health nurse practitioner 1. The Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners is not a standalone document; it is a companion document to: Therefore, advanced practice registered nurses may need to practice in new settings, perform new procedures, and develop new skills during their professional careers. NPs can practice both autonomously and in conjunction with physicians and other healthcare professionals. •As a licensed healthcare provider, the WHNP is subject to the scope of practice rules and regulations established by and pursuant to the nurse practice act They focus on reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological health. Describe the evolution, scope, and professional roles for nurses in maternal and child health nursing. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice. Identify the goals and philosophy of maternal and child health nursing. The primary organization for OB/GYN NPs is the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH). NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider. 2. For example, two women's health nurse practitioners working in the same practice setting could have significantly varied skills and experiences. There are six patient populations the State Board of Nursing designates for NPs to focus including neonatal, pediatrics, family/across the life span, adult/gerontology, women’s health/gender-related and psychiatric/mental health. Pa. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered professional nurses who are prepared through advanced graduate education and clinical training to provide a range of health services, including the diagnosis and management of common as well as complex medical conditions to people of all ages.. The scope of advanced practice evolves through experience, acquisition of knowledge, evidence-based practice, technology development and changes in the health care delivery system. It is often more useful for individual APRNs to think about working within his/her scope of competency versus the scope of practice. The Scope of Practice for a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner depends on the state that you are licensed. 3. Each state mandates if a women’s health nurse practitioner needs to have a physician’s oversight, so these requirements can vary widely. Some states allow WHNPs to practice completely independent and some require complete physician oversight. SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS DECEMBER 2017 2 CARNA STANDARDS Purpose This document was developed to outline the broad scope of practice of nurse practitioners in Alberta while delineating the boundaries of that practice.