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6 nursing careers in women’s health care

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by Nurse_Carol @ January 20th, 2012 RSS Link Tweet

Question:
What nursing careers are there in women’s health? I am just getting started in nursing school, and I think that is the general area I want to work in.

Answer:
One of the great things about a career in nursing is that even within a specialty such as women’s health there are numerous options. Let’s look at a few.

1. Gynecology is the specialty related to female reproductive organs. Gynecology includes routine care of well women, care of menstrual disorders, menopausal issues, and diseases of the reproductive tract. Nurses may be involved in all of these areas of concern, or may sub-specialize in one area. Teaching women how their bodies function normally, what variations from normal are, and how to stay healthy are important nursing roles. Nurses may work in gynecologic offices, outpatient clinics, or surgical areas in this specialty.

2. Family planning services are often provided by nurses. Helping women to find the method that is best suited to their situation and to use it effectively is vital to women’s health. Family planning nurses must keep up with the latest innovations and controversies in the field and also are on the forefront of preventing and treating sexually transmitted infections.

3. Care of the childbearing woman includes prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Again, the emphasis is on wellness and prevention of complications. Jobs in the community setting include prenatal clinics and home visits to high risk moms. Nurses provide maternity care in birthing centers and hospitals, providing the safest outcomes for mother and baby with an emphasis on a natural process whenever possible. Postpartum nurses monitor women’s recovery and provide instruction on self care and infant care to new mothers.

4. Infertility counseling and treatment is another important area of care to women and their partners desiring to conceive. This specialized field allows nurses to be on the cutting edge of some of the newest treatment options, and to build supportive relationships with couples during a stressful time in their lives.

5. Oncology nurses may specialize in the care of women with cancers affecting breast, uterus, cervix,ovaries and genital cancers. Again, highly specialized knowledge and expertise is combined with emotional support to women who are confronted with cancer. Oncology care jobs may be in the hospital during surgical treatment, in mammography clinics, or in research centers. Often oncology nurses work in outpatient centers where chemotherapy and other treatments are administered, and followup care is provided to cancer survivors.

6. Caring for aging women and counseling about menopausal concerns is another area to consider. Menopausal women need advice on managing symptoms caused by fluctuating hormones, and may be confused about options such as hormone replacement therapy. As women age, they need to be proactive in maintaining their health. Nurses work with women in preventing, identifying, and treating problems such as osteoporosis, coronary disease, and cognitive decline.

Nurses caring for women of any age need to be cognizant of the problems of abuse, not only in the domestic violence arena, but also sexual assault and trafficking. Nurses are vital in providing immediate care, reporting, and arranging safe harbor and social services for abused women.

As a nursing student you will be exposed to many of these women’s health roles as you complete your clinical rotations. Keep in mind the opportunities in advanced practice nursing, including women’s health nurse practitioner and nurse midwife specialties, which require an MSN degree.

Tags: womens' health nursing