Specialty Population of Interest
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (Women’s Health)
The Clinical Nurse Specialist program at the University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science prepares nurses for advanced practice roles focused on improving patient outcomes and healthcare systems. CNS students develop expertise as clinicians, educators, consultants, and leaders, applying evidence-based practice across diverse care settings.
The Perinatal (Women’s Health) Clinical Nurse Specialist role focuses on supporting individuals and families throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. This includes promoting healthy pregnancies, supporting safe labor and delivery, and advancing postpartum and newborn care through clinical leadership and system-level improvement.
Role and Areas of Impact
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialists address maternal and newborn health by:
- Supporting evidence-based perinatal care practices
- Consulting on complex clinical situations
- Educating and mentoring nursing and interdisciplinary teams
- Leading quality improvement initiatives in women’s health settings
- Improving care delivery across the perinatal continuum
This role blends advanced clinical knowledge with leadership to improve outcomes for mothers, newborns, and families.
Program Pathway and Application Information
Within the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) pathway, students may focus on specialty populations such as Perinatal (Women’s Health) while pursuing one of the following degrees: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Applicants pursuing the MSN degree apply to the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) program. After admission, students select Perinatal (Women’s Health) as their specialty population of interest within the CNS pathway.
Applicants pursuing the DNP degree apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical Nurse Specialist (DNP-CNS) program. After admission, students align their doctoral studies with the CNS pathway and select Perinatal (Women’s Health) as their specialty population of interest.
Applicants pursuing the PhD degree apply to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Specialist (PhD-CNS) program. After admission, students develop an individualized plan of study aligned with the CNS pathway, incorporating Perinatal (Women’s Health) as their specialty population of interest.
There is currently no national certification specific to the Women’s Health Clinical Nurse Specialist role. The Perinatal (Women’s Health) CNS curriculum aligns with the Women’s Health CNS Competencies published by the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), ensuring preparation consistent with current professional standards.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The Master of Science in Nursing degree is awarded in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program. A population of interest, such as Perinatal (Women’s Health), is part of the academic pathway and clinical focus but does not appear as a separate degree designation on the diploma.
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