Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner added to Jefferson’s MSN offerings

Jefferson School of Nursing at Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson College of Health Professions received approval from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program and post-master’s certificate program. Both programs will begin in Fall 2009, although interested students can begin core and support courses in Spring 2009.

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners care for women throughout the lifespan, in wellness and illness. “The demand for master’s prepared Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners exceeds those currently available in rural Pennsylvania,” shares Beth Ann Swan, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the Graduate Program of the Jefferson School of Nursing. “This state has a large rural population, yet its healthcare providers tend to be clustered in the major cities. In the last few years there has been a 15 to 17 percent advanced practice nurse vacancy rate in northern and central Pennsylvania.”

“By providing a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Jefferson will help to increase the number of advanced practice nurses employed in Pennsylvania, and that will promote access to health care for rural and urban underserved communities,” shares Ksenia Zukowsky, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, Assistant Professor, Director for Women's and Children's Programs and Coordinator of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at JSN.

The WHNP program will be offered at the Geisinger Medical Campus in Danville, PA, as well as Jefferson’s Center City Philadelphia campus. It is offered as a 36-credit master’s program and an 18-credit post-master’s certificate. The master’s program includes 18 credits of core courses and nine credits of support courses, as well as three clinical courses in the area of women’s health. These courses include health promotion and maintenance of the well woman and pregnancy; infertility and high risk pregnancy; and gynecologic disorders, such as abnormal breast conditions, gynecologic and urologic disorders, abnormal pap smears, pelvic pain, menopause disorders and mental health issues. Clinical courses will be held in inpatient and outpatient settings.

The 18-credit post-master’s certificate includes the support and clinical components of the master’s degree program. Both the master’s and the post-master’s programs are offered on a full-time and part-time basis. After completing the program, students are eligible for National Certification Corporation (NCC) certification exam. Upon passing the exam, individuals are eligible to be CRNPs in Pennsylvania.

Jefferson School of Nursing’s other MSN programs include Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Community Systems Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse, Adult Advanced Practice Nurse, Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, Pediatric Advanced Practice Nurse, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Informatics. Learn more at http://www.jefferson.edu/jchp/nursing/msn.cfm

Contact:
Jane Clinton
215-503-9865
jane.clinton@jefferson.edu

Published: 12-09-08

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