Life as an NNP
What will you do as a neonatal nurse practitioner? Heading link
Neonatal nurse practitioners are prepared to practice across the continuum, providing primary, acute, chronic and critical care to neonates, infants and toddlers through age 2. Primary focus is on comprehensive care to ill and preterm newborns and their families in a variety of acute care and non-acute care settings, primarily inpatient Level I, II, III or IV neonatal units. NNPs collaborate with neonatologists, pediatric specialists, and other members of the healthcare team regarding the plan of care for the newborn.
NNP responsibilities include:
- Collaborate with neonatologists, pediatric specialists, and other members of the healthcare team regarding the plan of care for the newborn.
- Obtain health histories and perform comprehensive physical and gestational age assessments.
- Stabilize and transport ill infants to Level IIIIV nurseries via both ground and air transport.
- Perform procedures necessary to aid in identifying a diagnosis (e.g., delivery room resuscitation, umbilical line placement, intubation, thoracentesis, chest tube placement, peripheral arterial line placement, PICC placement).
- Write daily orders for medications, treatments, and tests; evaluate results and revises accordingly.
- Ensure immunizations and health screening tests are performed.
- Incorporate developmental care in patient caregiving.
- Promote family-centered care and healthy infant-parent attachment.
- Participate in patient rounds.
- Attend morbidity and mortality rounds and medical conferences within the institution.
- Provide staff education.