Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal nurse practitioners specialize in the medical care of infants and the new-born babies in a neonatal unit. Paper Masters can custom write a research paper for any neonatal nurse practitioner or about neonatal nursing.
Simply put, a neonatal nurse practitioner is nurse practitioner specializing in the care of newborn infants. Neonatology is the part of pediatrics providing medical care to newborns. Neonatal nurse practitioners may care for healthy newborns, premature infants or even with the serious ill premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
An individual wishing to become a neonatal nurse practitioner must be a registered nurse (RN), with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. After certification and clinical experience, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and licensure as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is required.
Big Demand for Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
It is expected that demand for neonatal nurse practitioners will increase in the coming years. These health care professional provide three levels of care.
- Level I nurses provide care for healthy infants, but demand for this level nurse practitioner is decreasing.
- Level II nurses provide care for premature and sick infants requiring constant attention. Level II nurses are in demand.
- Level III nurses are the ones who work in the NICU, monitoring seriously ill or premature infants.
Some neonatal nurse practitioners can work as post-discharge healthcare providers for post-NICU infants, teaching parenting skills, providing case management, or serving as consultants to emergency rooms, pediatrics, or community pediatric medical practices.