Become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal nurse specialists focus on the care of newborn infants. They may care for healthy infants, provide focused care for premature or ill newborns, or work exclusively with seriously ill newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This nursing career requires a high level of diligence and teamwork. You will work closely with parents, neonatologists and other nurse specialists to achieve optimal results for your tiny patients.

But first, you'll need to complete your nurse training at the best nursing school for you.

Neonatal Nurse Specialist Career Overview

Neonatal nurses (RNs) and neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) may work in clinics, community-based settings, hospitals or neonatal intensive care units. They may also conduct research, act as consultants or provide education to staff and family members.

There are three levels in the neonatal nursing specialty:

• Level I care for healthy infants. The demand for this level of neonatal nursing is decreasing because mothers and newborn babies are now more likely to stay in the same room together after birth.
• Level II nurses are much more in demand because premature and sick babies need constant attention.
• Level III nurses have the most intensive responsibilities, working in the NICU and monitoring seriously ill or premature infants around the clock. They check ventilators and incubators, make sure babies are responding well, and teach parents how to care for their infants properly.

Neonatal Nurse Specialist Education

Entry-level requirements vary by location. At a minimum, you need to meet these requirements:

• A neonatal nurse must be a registered nurse (RN) with a four-year bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN).
• You must be certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and/or Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing.
• You may also be required to complete a minimum number of years of clinical experience in a hospital setting.
• To become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), you will also need a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Many nursing schools offer this degree through a two-year Advanced Practice Neonatal Nursing (APNN) program. This type of program will prepare you for licensure as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and/or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

Once you have completed your nursing school training, you must also become certified by your State Board of Nursing or receive a national certification from an agency such as the National Certification Corporation.

Neonatal Nurse Specialist Salary

According to Salary.com, the median salary for a nurse practitioner in the United States is $80,414. The middle 50 percent earned between $73,840 and $87,008. Nurse practitioners typically make about $20,000 more per year in base salary than RNs.

Another source, the Council of International Neonatal Nurses reports that a neonatal nurse practitioner or teacher may make from $56,000 to $190,000 per year, depending on the country and/or job responsibilities.

Neonatal Nurse Specialist Career Outlook

Approximately 40,000 low birth weight infants are born annually in the United States. These infants often need many months of care, but survival rates are now 10 times better than they were 15 years ago because of great medical advances and the growing skill of physician and nurse specialists.

As with all nursing careers, the demand for neonatal nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners is expected to increase significantly over the next ten years (see information about the current nursing shortage). In general, the more training, certifications and experience a nurse has, the more demand there will be for his or her skill set.

Job demand positively affects salaries, schedules, job openings and the availability of training institutions and government grants for education. These reasons, coupled with the fact that nursing is a rewarding profession, make today a great time to become a neonatal nurse specialist.

Sources:
National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 2008
Wikipedia, 2008