Keiser University has launched a new Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree meant to address Florida’s nursing shortage in women’s health. The new Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program explores the complexities of providing primary care to women throughout their lifespan.

The new MSN program at Keiser University is the only women’s health master’s program offered in Florida and comes at a critical time as the state is facing a shortfall of nearly 60,000 nurses by 2035 according to Florida Hospital Association. The WHNP program will help to address barriers to health care by providing preventative services for women, a need which is especially critical in rural areas of the state where sometimes more than 50 percent of the population lives without a health care provider. Several studies by the Institutes of Medicine have shown that advanced practice registered nurses who have full practice authority are able to deliver safe, cost-effective, high-quality care.

“Florida’s population continues to grow and the demand for nursing personnel will increase as the state’s baby boomers reach retirement age,” said Robert Keiser, Ph.D., MBA, Vice Chancellor of Keiser University’s Graduate School. “Keiser University’s WHNP master’s degree will prepare nursing practitioners to specialize in the unique needs associated with primary care for women of all ages.”

The WHNP master’s degree focuses on holistic health care including a woman’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs from adolescence through childbearing and advanced years. The program prepares nurses to provide gynecologic care, pregnancy risk management, family planning, sexually transmitted disease infection diagnosis and treatment, and primary care to women. Keiser’s WHNP is best suited for BSN graduates, regardless of discipline or specialty, who are interested in a career working in labor & delivery, OBGYN, sexual assault response, or leadership roles within women’s healthcare or the LGBTQ+ population.

This program is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) guidelines as prescribed in the Essentials of Master Education in Nursing (AACN 2011) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Population Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF 2013). The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-877-6791.

As a career-focused university with 21 Florida campuses, two international locations, and a robust online division, Keiser University continues to address the talent needs of Florida and the U.S. Most of Keiser’s academic degrees are in industries identified as emerging or critically needed. Keiser University is one of the largest producers of nursing graduates in the state of Florida and the University is a statewide leader in nursing and allied health education. Since 2019, Keiser has graduated more than 3,200 nursing students who are filling critical job vacancies throughout Florida.

“At this critical point, we will continue to respond to the needs of our Florida communities and are pleased to begin offering a master’s degree that specializes in the unique needs of women’s health,” said Keiser. “Nursing students and graduates from Keiser University will remain on the frontline providing lifesaving assistance and critical support to health care teams throughout Florida and the nation.”

The University is currently enrolling for the program’s first cohort which will begin in summer/fall 2022. For more information about the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner MSN, visit: https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/womens-health-nurse-practitioner-msn/.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 5 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News And World Report in 2022.