The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (formerly the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive Health) was founded in 1980. NPWH's mission is to assure the provision of quality health care to women of all ages by nurse practitioners. NPWH defines quality health care to be inclusive of an individual's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

NPWH recognizes and respects women as decision-makers for their health care. NPWH's mission includes protecting and promoting a woman's right to make her own choices regarding her health within the context of her personal, religious, cultural, and family beliefs.

NPWH represents nurse practitioners that provide care to women in the primary care setting as well as in women's health specialty practices.

NPWH is a trusted source of information on nurse practitioner education, practice, and women's health issues. NPWH works with a wide range of individuals and groups within nursing, medicine, the health care industry, and the women's health community.

Standards and Guidelines

NPWH and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) jointly published The Women's Health Nurse Practitioner: Guidelines for Practice and Education. This document defines the role of the women's health nurse practitioner, identifies practice guidelines and competencies, and serves as a guide for women's health nurse practitioner education programs. NPWH has also published standards for the training of nurse colposcopists.

Accreditation of Nurse Practitioner Programs

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes NPWH as the designated organization for the accreditation of women's health nurse practitioner programs. Graduates of NPWH accredited programs are eligible for certification through the National Certification Corporation (NCC), the certifying body for WHNPs.

Government Relations

NPWH is a major player among nursing and reproductive health care organizations. NPWH's President regularly presents testimony on nurse practitioner and reproductive health care issues to Congress, to the Food and Drug Administration and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NPWH works to educate its members about the policy-making process and encourages their participation in policy development on the local, state and national levels.

Education and Practice

A priority for NPWH is the removal of barriers to nurse practitioners licensed to practice regardless of their degree status. Further, NPWH encourages continued professional development of degree programs that provide credit for prior education and experience.

Professional Continuing Education

NPWH has an annual clinical meeting and other continuing education meetings during the year. NPWH also offers a wide variety of written materials available for continuing education credit.

Special Expertise in Women's Health

Programs and publications produced and sponsored by NPWH offer special expertise in reproductive health as well as primary care women't health issues. Programs and offerings include but are not limited to: