What Is a Fertility Nurse Practitioner and How to Become One

Individuals seeking to conceive often undergo treatment such as IVF, or in vitro fertilization. As a fertility nurse practitioner, you work in a fertility clinic, egg donor clinic, or OB/GYN office, and provide care for these patients by teaching them about the risks and benefits of different procedures, assisting with tests such as ultrasounds, and helping them feel comfortable throughout the process. Fertility nurses assist with procedures like egg donation and IUI, or intrauterine insemination, and perform many of the standard duties for which nurses are generally responsible, such as updating charts, recording vital signs, and following up to obtain test results.

As a fertility nurse practitioner, your responsibilities focus heavily on teaching and counseling patients about issues and options that are highly sensitive and often emotionally charged, so you need excellent communication skills and a compassionate, empathetic demeanor. Fertility nurse practitioners have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have passed their National Council Licensure exam. To become an NP, you must then complete a master’s degree with a concentration in women’s health. You may also expand your qualifications by earning certification in reproductive nursing and some transition into research roles involving stem cells and advancements in IVF.