Women’s Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner

Flexible Studies

The WHGRNP program requires 46 credit hours and may be completed in four semesters of full-time study or may be pursued part time. All courses are online with limited in person intensives. Residency in Georgia is not required.  Students come to campus 1-2 times a semester for simulations, procedural skills labs, and competency validations. Online content delivery allows schedules to be tailored to meet students' individual needs.

Unique Highlights

The program seeks to prepare health professionals who will provide inclusive sexual and reproductive healthcare along with primary care of women from puberty to end of life.  There is a particular focus on meeting the needs of those disadvantaged by gender or sexual health inequities. In addition, Emory WHGRNP students are provided with a unique opportunity to receive specialized training in forensic nursing and meeting the needs of patients who are survivors of violence.

Clinical Experience

Graduates are required to complete 630 hours of directly supervised clinical practice. A variety of clinical sites offer student learning opportunities with diverse populations in the hospital and outpatient settings such as family planning, student health, public health, HIV, breast, urogynecology, hormone, and infertility clinics. There are opportunities to participate in service-learning projects such as providing cancer screenings in rural areas of Peru. Clinical placements do not need to occur in the Atlanta area.

Career Opportunities

The program prepares students to take the national Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Exam from the National Certification Corporation (NCC).  Graduates provide holistic, client-centered, evidence-based, primary, sexual and reproductive health care that is non-judgmental, respectful, and inclusive.  Former students are employed in a variety of roles and environments, including academic health centers, private clinics, public health, family planning agencies, as well as LGBTQ health centers.

DNP Program Option

‍This specialty is also offered in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) format.

To be considered for admission to the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, you must submit the following items:

Requirements for MSN admission include:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, NLNAC)
• Unencumbered RN license in the state of Georgia or a multistate RN license

Admission Requirements:

• Application for Admission
• $50 Application Fee
• Official transcripts from each school attended
• Resume
• Personal statement
• 2-3 References (preference for at least one to be a nursing supervisor)
• Students with international nursing degrees must provide an evaluation from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (www.cgfns.org) for previous nursing coursework.
• Students with international transcripts for non-nursing degrees must provide an evaluation from World Education Services (www.wes.org) for previous non-nursing coursework.
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required if English is a second language. Read Emory University's accepted tests policy here.

Transcript submission:

* Preferred method: Choose Emory University - School of Nursing in the electronic transcript systems or have your school email your official transcripts to nursingquestions@emory.edu.

If your school does not participate in the electronic transcript system or cannot email your transcripts then please have them mail a hard copy to:

Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Emory University
1520 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322

*Please note that all courses and degrees in the application checklist must be verified by the Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs before they are marked as received. 

Admission decisions will be based upon candidate competitiveness as well as space availability. Applicants could potentially be placed on a waitlist. Decisions for waitlisted applicants are announced as seats become available, up to the first day of orientation. Application deadlines can be found here.

For questions or concerns about the application process, please contact the School of Nursing's Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs at nursingquestions@emory.edu or call 404.727.7980.

Not every state will allow a student to enroll in a distance education program or to participate in a clinical placement within the state. The states found on the link below are eligible states for distance-based education and clinical placement. For applicants not seeing their state on this list, please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs.

Applicants to any of our distance-accessible courses/ programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification should become familiar with the regulations governing distance accessible programs in their state. Licensure requirements vary from state to state and by professional organization. Emory is working toward developing a database to provide this information. Prospective students residing in states other than Georgia should be aware of their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education rules and regulations.

Emory University is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for Washington residents for the Women’s Health/Gender Related nurse practitioner program.

This program is also offered as a Post-Graduate Certificate.