NP
Nurse Practitioners play a crucial role in expanding access to compassionate, patient-centered abortion care — especially in primary care and community health settings.
The NP pathway offers multiple entry points for training, from graduate education through continuing practice and post-licensure advocacy.
Note: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNAs) may provide anesthesia during abortion procedures in some settings.
Overview & Expectations
Your ability to provide abortion care depends on state laws and scope-of-practice regulations. Ask yourself:
Can NPs legally perform abortion care in the state where you want to live, work, or study?
What types are allowed—procedural, medication, telehealth, early pregnancy loss?
Ask the following questions:
If NPs cannot provide procedural or medication abortion, can they provide patient care and counseling before, or help manage follow up and complications?
What is the role of the RN in abortion care in your state?
Are there supervision or collaboration requirements?
Common NP specialties providing abortion care: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Your ability to provide abortion care depends on state laws and scope-of-practice regulations. Ask yourself:
Can NPs legally perform abortion care in the state where you want to live, work, or study?
What types are allowed—procedural, medication, telehealth, early pregnancy loss?
Ask the following questions:
If NPs cannot provide procedural or medication abortion, can they provide patient care and counseling before, or help manage follow up and complications?
What is the role of the RN in abortion care in your state?
Are there supervision or collaboration requirements?
Common NP specialties providing abortion care: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Degrees: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing (DNP) [Direct-entry or post-master’s].
Prerequisites: Programs vary, but commonly include Biology/Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Statistics.
Costs & Funding: Tuition varies by program type and location.
Ask upfront about:
Clinical placement support and preceptor availability
Hidden costs (e.g., board review fees, travel for clinical sites)
Explore:
Look into scholarships, fellowships, and federal service programs (National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps).
Investigate loan repayment and scholarship options by state and local governments.
Questions to Ask Programs:
Is abortion included in my didactic and/or clinical curriculum?
Are preceptors or professors supportive of abortion training?
Are there affiliated clinical sites where abortion care is provided?
What are the opportunities to gain sexual and reproductive health (SRH) skills while in training?
How are telehealth and early pregnancy loss taught?
Tip: If you’re considering Nurse Corps or National Health Service Corps programs, remember these typically require a multi-year, primary-care service commitment.
Degrees: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing (DNP) [Direct-entry or post-master’s].
Prerequisites: Programs vary, but commonly include Biology/Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Statistics.
Costs & Funding: Tuition varies by program type and location.
Ask upfront about:
Clinical placement support and preceptor availability
Hidden costs (e.g., board review fees, travel for clinical sites)
Explore:
Look into scholarships, fellowships, and federal service programs (National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps).
Investigate loan repayment and scholarship options by state and local governments.
Questions to Ask Programs:
Is abortion included in my didactic and/or clinical curriculum?
Are preceptors or professors supportive of abortion training?
Are there affiliated clinical sites where abortion care is provided?
What are the opportunities to gain sexual and reproductive health (SRH) skills while in training?
How are telehealth and early pregnancy loss taught?
Tip: If you’re considering Nurse Corps or National Health Service Corps programs, remember these typically require a multi-year, primary-care service commitment.
Start early by building reproductive health experience:
Volunteer or work at a family planning or abortion clinic.
Train as a clinic escort or abortion doula to understand protester dynamics, safety, and patient support.
Attend webinars and workshops hosted by reproductive advocacy groups [TEACH, Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP), Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH), National Abortion Federation (NAF).]
Sign up for these advocacy newsletters to stay current with training and policy shifts.
Gain clinical experience as an RN at Planned Parenthood, independent clinics, or Labor & Delivery (L&D) settings to strengthen your foundation.
Start early by building reproductive health experience:
Volunteer or work at a family planning or abortion clinic.
Train as a clinic escort or abortion doula to understand protester dynamics, safety, and patient support.
Attend webinars and workshops hosted by reproductive advocacy groups [TEACH, Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP), Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH), National Abortion Federation (NAF).]
Sign up for these advocacy newsletters to stay current with training and policy shifts.
Gain clinical experience as an RN at Planned Parenthood, independent clinics, or Labor & Delivery (L&D) settings to strengthen your foundation.
Cultivate Awareness
Cultivate Awareness
Take electives in SRH, ethics, and community health.
Join or start a NSRH chapter.
Attend community reproductive justice events or webinars at Black Women for Wellness, Sister Song, Sister Reach, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Sister Love inc..
Take electives in SRH, ethics, and community health.
Join or start a NSRH chapter.
Attend community reproductive justice events or webinars at Black Women for Wellness, Sister Song, Sister Reach, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Sister Love inc..
Explore TEACH Early Abortion Curriculum and RHAP Clinical Modules.
Engage in values clarification exercises around autonomy and care. Then become a trainer!
Explore TEACH Early Abortion Curriculum and RHAP Clinical Modules.
Engage in values clarification exercises around autonomy and care. Then become a trainer!
Root in Community
Choose rotations or electives in reproductive health clinics, community health centers, or family planning programs.
Volunteer at local clinics or Exhale Pro-Voice to understand the intersection between access, stigma, and patient care.
Choose rotations or electives in reproductive health clinics, community health centers, or family planning programs.
Volunteer at local clinics or Exhale Pro-Voice to understand the intersection between access, stigma, and patient care.
Attend National Abortion Federation (NAF), Society of Family Planning, and Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH) conferences.
Join local Reproductive Health Access Project Network clusters to meet mentors and potential preceptors.
Work and triage patients as an RN at Planned Parenthood, independent abortion clinics, or full-scope OB/GYN clinics.
On-campus idea: Organize papaya or manual uterine aspiration (MUA) training workshops; invite reproductive justice leaders; facilitate peer learning circles.
Attend National Abortion Federation (NAF), Society of Family Planning, and Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH) conferences.
Join local Reproductive Health Access Project Network clusters to meet mentors and potential preceptors.
Work and triage patients as an RN at Planned Parenthood, independent abortion clinics, or full-scope OB/GYN clinics.
On-campus idea: Organize papaya or manual uterine aspiration (MUA) training workshops; invite reproductive justice leaders; facilitate peer learning circles.
Grow Through Training
Pursue post-master’s certificates or continuing education programs in SRH or women’s health at:
Apply to structured abortion training programs:
Build skills in trauma-informed counseling, early pregnancy loss management, and patient education Exhale Pro-voice.
For a detailed list of resources, see the Websites for Providers and Learners page.
Pursue post-master’s certificates or continuing education programs in SRH or women’s health at:
Apply to structured abortion training programs:
Build skills in trauma-informed counseling, early pregnancy loss management, and patient education Exhale Pro-voice.
For a detailed list of resources, see the Websites for Providers and Learners page.
Flourish in Practice
It’s never too late to get trained or re-trained. Many experienced NPs gain abortion skills later in their careers — often to serve under-resourced areas.
Seek out clinics or telehealth programs offering abortion training and supervision.
Advocate for full scope of NP practice to ensure abortion care and access in your state.
Educate colleagues on trauma-informed abortion care and counseling best practices.
Work to integrate abortion into your practice, resources and support for health centers are available.
If your practice does not provide abortion care, champion adding it to your practice. Read the TEACH integration chapter for guidance.
It’s never too late to get trained or re-trained. Many experienced NPs gain abortion skills later in their careers — often to serve under-resourced areas.
Seek out clinics or telehealth programs offering abortion training and supervision.
Advocate for full scope of NP practice to ensure abortion care and access in your state.
Educate colleagues on trauma-informed abortion care and counseling best practices.
Work to integrate abortion into your practice, resources and support for health centers are available.
If your practice does not provide abortion care, champion adding it to your practice. Read the TEACH integration chapter for guidance.
Continued Learning
Lead & Advocate
Join or start initiatives advancing NP scope in reproductive health.
Contribute to research, policy and Reproductive Justice (RJ) through leadership fellowships such as TEACH, Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC)) and present at conferences.
Publish or collaborate on studies to advance equitable abortion access and present at conferences.
Publish or collaborate on studies to advance equitable abortion access.
Join your local NP association and encourage them to support abortion training for NPs. Organize SRH and abortion training for members.
Join or start initiatives advancing NP scope in reproductive health.
Contribute to research, policy and Reproductive Justice (RJ) through leadership fellowships such as TEACH, Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC)) and present at conferences.
Publish or collaborate on studies to advance equitable abortion access and present at conferences.
Publish or collaborate on studies to advance equitable abortion access.
Join your local NP association and encourage them to support abortion training for NPs. Organize SRH and abortion training for members.
Ask programs:
Stay connected:
Subscribe to NSRH, RHAP, TEACH, NAF, Society of Family Planning (SFP), and state The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) // National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) newsletters.
Become member of your favorite professional organization and join a committee.
Post-graduation next steps:
Apply to Repro TLC, or TEACH fellowships.
Integrate abortion into your practice—bringing abortion and early pregnancy loss care to your patient population. Resources and support for health centers are available.
Ask programs:
Stay connected:
Subscribe to NSRH, RHAP, TEACH, NAF, Society of Family Planning (SFP), and state The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) // National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) newsletters.
Become member of your favorite professional organization and join a committee.
Post-graduation next steps:
Apply to Repro TLC, or TEACH fellowships.
Integrate abortion into your practice—bringing abortion and early pregnancy loss care to your patient population. Resources and support for health centers are available.
Every healthcare provider plays a vital role in ensuring access for patients seeking reproductive health care.
Subscribe to NSRH, RHAP, TEACH, NAF, Society of Family Planning (SFP), and state The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) // National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) newsletters.
Become member of your favorite professional organization and join a committee.
TEACH cultivates the next generation of diverse reproductive health champions through abortion training, mentorship and curriculum innovation and advocacy.
TEACH
PO Box 720189
San Francisco, CA 94172
TEACH is fiscally sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports small organizations like ours.
TIN: 95-4116679
© 2026 TEACH. All rights reserved.
Website by lover studio
TEACH cultivates the next generation of diverse reproductive health champions through abortion training, mentorship and curriculum development.
TEACH
PO Box 720189
San Francisco, CA 94172
TEACH is fiscally sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports small organizations like ours.
TIN: 95-4116679
© 2026 TEACH. All rights reserved.
Website by lover studio
