Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs
A nurse practitioner is a medical professional who wishes to take his or her nursing career to a higher level. By obtaining an advanced nursing degree, a nurse practitioner can become certified and earn the opportunity to treat patients in much the same capacity as a physician would. Nurse practitioners also may choose an area of specialization; for example, a neonatal nurse practitioner will work with newborns. You will often find them in hospitals, but they may also have their own practices or work for a home health agency to treat infants at home when necessary. Public health clinics also employ NNP’s to offer health care to newborns who are born into poor and indigent families.
Choosing A Nurse Practitioner Specialization
Like a nursing professional who chooses to work only in child physiology as a pediatric nurse practitioner or an acute care nurse practitioner who works only with adult care, a neonatal nurse practitioner works only with newborn babies. An NNP is able to examine and diagnose newborns, make treatment recommendations, and work with laboratories, specialists, and pharmacies to ensure that the proper level of care is received. It is very important that as a neonatal nurse practitioner, you are willing and able to work closely with the parents and families of these babies as well.
Duties And Responsibilities Of A Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
There are two primary sets of responsibilities for neonatal nurse practitioners: one set deals with newborns and premature babies, and the other set deals with new parents. An NNP will provide acute care to newborns who have respiratory problems, or are born with a low birth rate. It is very important that an NNP has a complete understanding of potential issues dealing with newborns and how to diagnose and treat them. As a neonatal nurse practitioner, you will also be largely responsible for educating and supporting parents, giving them the information they need to care for their new baby, whether health risks exist or not.
Like a doctor, you will be able to order laboratory tests necessary for diagnosis and treatment planning, making treatment recommendations, and helping parents make decisions based on facts and options available. Ordering labs & interpreting results are a standard part of the Nurse Practitioner job description. You will see treatment through from beginning to end, and make referrals to outside specialists as necessary.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Education
A neonatal nurse practitioner is, in essence, a registered nurse with an advanced degree specializing in neonatal health care. If you are starting out, you’ll be required to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, followed by a master’s degree in nursing. Once you have completed your general nursing classes, you will be able to choose from the many Nurse Practitioner Schools In California, and then choose the classes that focus on neonatal care; your thesis should focus on your area of specialization, and you will complete clinical placements that help prepare you for a career as an NNP.
If you are already a registered nurse, then you already hold an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. A BSN level nurse will simply find a master’s program that fits his or her needs; an associate’s level nurse will want to find a bridge program that strives to simplify the advancement from an associate’s to a master’s degree.
Once you have completed the education requirements, you will have to sit for a licensure test to become certified. This test is given and evaluated by the American Nurses Credential Center, and must be renewed every five years, making continuing education a must. As you consider the different Nurse Practitioner programs in California, keep in mind that CEU’s are required for an NP, the same as a Registered Nurse.
Employment Information For Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
Due in part to the growing population of fertility treatments, as well a simple increase in what we know about infant illnesses and mortality rates, there is a growing need for professionals who specialize in neonatal medicine. By utilizing nurse practitioners instead of, or in addition to, physicians, hospitals and other medical facilities are able to drive down the cost of this form of necessary health care, easing the burden for the facility, insurance companies, and families. For these reasons, the demand for neonatal nurse practitioners far exceeds the number of these professionals seeking positions. This makes the job outlook quite appealing; additionally, the average salary for a neonatal nurse practitioner is nearing $100,000 per year, which is a substantial jump from that of a registered nurse. For nurses who prefer to work with adolescents, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner receives specialized training in diagnosing & treating juvenile patients. A Family Nurse Practitioner has the broadest scope of practice, often acting as the Primary Care contact for patients.
How To Become A Neonatal Nurse Practitioner?
In addition to completing the necessary educational requirements, there are certain traits and characteristics that help make a person an effective neonatal nurse practitioner. Of course, an NNP must be compassionate and caring; he or she must be able to communicate well with other medical professionals, as well as family members of patients, remembering that there is often a great deal of emotion standing between you and your patients’ family members. A neonatal nurse practitioner must be well organized and have a profound understanding of the needs of infants, and be able to act as advocate and case manager for these babies and their families.