Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Career
What Do You Do in This Career?
Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) and pediatric advanced practice nurses support not only the child, but the entire family in creating a healthy environment. Much of the focus is on preventive care and educating families on how to keep everyone in good health by preventing injuries and illness. Neonatal nurses specialize in the care of newborn babies, often premature or sick newborns. Some work exclusively with seriously ill newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
Diligence and the ability to work on a team are important for this position, as well as excellent interpersonal skills for working closely with parents, doctors, and other nurses. Neonatal nurses work in many settings: hospitals, intensive care units, or pediatrics offices. Within neonatal care, specialties include caring for healthy infants, caring for premature and sick babies, and working in the NICU with seriously ill infants, all of which require increasing levels of education.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: Depending on location, education level, experience, and work setting, NNPs can expect to earn between $39,889 and $103,564.
- NNP Requirements: Requirements for practicing as an NP include being a licensed registered nurse (RN), earning a master’s degree or higher, and passing the necessary certification exam(s). To be an NNP your coursework and exams will be specialized to this field. For NPs interested in specializing in neonatal care, there is additional coursework they can take as well as passing the required exams.
- Work Environment: NNPs can work in a variety of settings: hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, intensive care units, physicians’ offices, and more, depending on the level of care they provide.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
Advanced practice neonatal nursing programs are usually two years long and lead to a master of science degree. APNNs and NNPs are not only trained to give care, provide treatment, order X-rays of broken bones and prescribe medications to children; they are also trained to be culturally sensitive. Some programs require the equivalent of one year of full-time practice experience as a registered nurse (RN) caring for critically ill newborns, infants, or children in acute care. All applicants to neonatal nurse practitioner programs should already have their RN, or be enrolled in a dual degree program for RNs to NPs, and have an extensive childcare background.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a graduate-level degree. While in most states RNs currently need only a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree to become nurse practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has proposed that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) be the minimum requirement for all advanced practice nurses by 2015. Listed below are the best online colleges offering accredited MSN and DNP degrees.
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Georgetown University — The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies offers two online Master of Science in nursing degrees. The MS in family nurse practitioner program prepares students for careers as family nurses. The MS in midwifery / women's health nurse practitioner program perpares students for careers as nurse practitioners who specialize as midwives and caring for female patients. |
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University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available. |
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Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more. |
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University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse midwifery, and psychiatric & mental health nursing. |
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South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability. Their MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for registered nurses who may be too busy with work for full-time campus classes, but looking for professional advancement in their respective careers by earning an online degree. |
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