Loyola University > School of Nursing > Academics > Degree Programs > Graduate Degrees > Doctor of Nursing Practice > Women's Health/Gender Related Nurse Practitioner
Women's Health/Gender Related Nurse Practitioner
Provide compassionate, holistic care for women from puberty through adulthood
When it comes to health care, women have unique needs and challenges. As a Women's Health/Gender Related Nurse Practitioner (NP) you can provide the specialized care they need throughout the lifespan.
At Loyola Nursing, we offer a flexible, personalized experience to help you advance your career and become an expert in not only women's health, but gender and reproductive health. Graduates of Loyola's Women's Heath/Gender Related NP track are known for their compassionate, ethical care. During your graduate education as a Women's Health/Gender Related NP, you will be exposed to all areas of women's health, from private practice to community health to specialty clinics. As a small program, we offer you the individualized resources and support to ensure you are ready for a career as a nurse practitioner.
Our Commitment to You
Graduates of the Women's Health/Gender Related NP track will have the following knowledge, competencies, and professional values to develop, deliver, and evaluate women’s health care at the highest level of nursing practice.
KNOWLEDGE
You will learn:
- Population health principles and concepts
- Theoretical, conceptual, and evidence-based foundations for advanced practice nursing care of women in primary care settings
- Advanced sexual health and gynecological care
- Advanced reproductive health, prenatal, and postpartum care
- Methods of advanced physical and health assessment and history taking
- Advanced pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics
- Advanced physiology of health and illness
- Management of common and complex health problems
- Family systems and family dynamics
- Systems thinking principles and concepts
- Resource management in health care
- Quality improvement principles and practices
- Health care policy and advocacy
- Health care economics and finance
- Decision-making tools and processes
Competencies
You will be able to:
- Conduct advanced physical assessments and health histories
- Educate women on disease prevention and healthy lifestyle measures
- Develop treatment plans for acute illness and chronic disease management
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests and screening evaluations
- Prescribe medications and other therapies
- Manage women’s health across the lifespan, including pregnancy and menopause
- Manage sensitive topics such as childbearing and fertility
- Analyze trends, issues, and evidence in health care and health care systems
- Integrate the best evidence and patient preferences into the development, delivery, and evaluation of care
- Provide leadership in advanced nursing practice
- Foster and maintain team partnerships in collaborative health care environments
PROFESSIONAL VALUES
Loyola Nursing is committed to preparing nurse leaders that value:
- The hallmark characteristics of a Jesuit education:
- Commitment to excellence
- Faith in God
- Service that promotes justice
- Values-based leadership
- Global awareness
- Ethical and moral judgement
- Eliminating health disparities
- Promoting patient safety and excellence in nursing practice
- Engaging in leadership activities through intra and inter-professional collaboration
- Ensuring equity in health policy
- Accountability to patients, society, and the profession
- Advocacy for women’s health
Curriculum
The Women's Health/Gender Related NP track is a hybrid learning format with both online and in-person instruction. Many of our students are working professionals with families at home, so we offer convenient full- and part-time options to fit your schedule.
CREDIT HOURS
70 credit hours
COURSES
Core Courses:
- Theories and Concept for Advanced Clinical Practice
- Research for Advanced Clinical Practice
- Population-focused Health
- Social Justice and Ethics in Health Care
- Leadership and Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Statistics for Health and Biological Sciences
- Health Care Policy and Economics
- Evidence Translation for Advanced Clinical Practice
- DNP Project
Role (NP) Courses:
- Advanced Practice Concepts in Community Health
- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Role Socialization
- Basic Diagnostics for Advanced Practice
Population (Women's Health) Courses:
- Reproductive Health
- Common Health Problems of Adults
- Childbearing & Family
- Complex Health Problems of Older Adults
Practicums:
- Women's Health Practicum
CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
A minimum of 2,000 hours of recent clinical practice experience is required before entering the first APRN clinical rotation. Clinical placements for students in these programs are in the Chicago area, and students must have a RN license in the state of Illinois before they begin the clinical portion of the program.
Admission
You must be a Registered Nurse with a baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing from an accredited program to apply. Admission is competitive and based on the strength of application materials and interview.
Begin your journey to becoming a Women's Health/Gender Related Nurse Practitioner! Learn more about the specific application requirements and apply today.
Questions? Contact Program Track Director Sandi Tenfelde, PhD, RN, APN, at stenfelde@luc.edu
