Any Neonatoal NP (NNP) at your units?

CapeMaui · Jul 20, 2004

erilynn17

First things first, don't worry too much about cost of post-grad education as most hospitals will pay for it when you work for them. Plus, all the schools you've mentioned are probably just expensive as Columbia.

Just out of curiosity, why couldn't you do the distance learning program at Stony Brook? Also, how do you like SB for their undergrad?

As for NNP vs. Neonatologist, IMHO, it really depends on what you want out of your career. Like Mac23 has mentioned, it's a long journey to becoming a Neonatologist and you would be responsible for all of the cost. For me, the choice of NNP over Neonatologist is not an easy one. I have a couple of friends who's Dads are Neonatalogists and I shadowed one for a few hours during one of my NICU visits and I LOVE what they do. I have yet to talke to a NNP, but so far, from RNs that I've talked to, the NNPs love their jobs too! Perhaps you should talk to both a Neonatologist and a NNP before deciding on what you want to do.

Good luck!! :)

erilynn17 · Jul 20, 2004

I know that hospitals usually have tuition reimbursement, but I don't know if they pay for it completely. I work at 2 hospitals right now as a pharmacy tech and one of them only gives you $3000 a year if you work full time and $1500 part time. I couldn't do the SB distance program b/c I don't think I would get as much out of it, or really be able to focus and do it. I would rather actually go to classes. I really like SB undergrad though...they have a great reputation, and even though its kinda tough, it makes me feel better that I'm challenging myself. This really is a tough decision b/w NNP and neonatologists...what are some pros and cons you've thought of? I know that I am going to definitely going to become an RN its just a matter of what to do after that. I have been trying to shadow someone but I can't find a hospital that will let me! They basically say that they don't do that. I haven't contacted SB yet but that would probably be my best choice. Feel free to PM me if you can suggest a hospital that you know would do it.

CapeMaui · Jul 21, 2004

I know that hospitals usually have tuition reimbursement, but I don't know if they pay for it completely. I work at 2 hospitals right now as a pharmacy tech and one of them only gives you $3000 a year if you work full time and $1500 part time. I couldn't do the SB distance program b/c I don't think I would get as much out of it, or really be able to focus and do it. I would rather actually go to classes. I really like SB undergrad though...they have a great reputation, and even though its kinda tough, it makes me feel better that I'm challenging myself. This really is a tough decision b/w NNP and neonatologists...what are some pros and cons you've thought of? I know that I am going to definitely going to become an RN its just a matter of what to do after that. I have been trying to shadow someone but I can't find a hospital that will let me! They basically say that they don't do that. I haven't contacted SB yet but that would probably be my best choice. Feel free to PM me if you can suggest a hospital that you know would do it.

The tuition reimbursement amount you mentioned sound really low. For example, Montefiore pays for 18 credits a year regardless of cost, NY Presbytarian pays 10,000 a year, and Stamford Hospital (CT) pays 80% of tuition regardless of cost as well. The list goes on. During career fair at my school, most other hospitals, like Mount Sinai, all have decent tuition reimbursement, the lowest that I could remember was 5,000 for the year. I would look into other hospitals if yours doesn't have a great benefit. The way I look at it is that I would be working and only going for NP P/T, so the amount of tuition reimbursement I've come across would cover it, year to year.

What hospitals have you talked to about shadowing? I didn't actually shadow a Neonatologist or a NNP. I talked to NNPs through friends that know them and Neonatologist when I was shadowing a nurse in the NICU. My advise would be to definitely ck with SB to see if they can hook you up to talk to a NNP and a Neonatologist. Most NNPs are very willing to talk to students. Once you get a dialogue going, see if they'll let you come in and see their day for a couple of hours. I hope this is helpful.

As for pros vs. cons between NNP and Neo MD (the word's too long to type ), for me, it really was a matter of time and money. From what I can tell, both really enjoy their job (who wouldn't!) and the NNPs are just as independent as the MDs and command just as much respect (I think this comes with experience and the NNP showing they know what they're doing). However, I am married and planning to start a family in 2 years. With that said, have a look at my list:

Pros for NNP:

* flexible school schedule

* less time to achieve

* less money to achieve

* ability to continue to work

* have a family

* good pay

* holistic approach!

* get to work with the babies!

Cons for NNP:

* not all hospitals have positions for NNPs

* not all hospitals are good to NNPs, some have bad working situation, e.g. lack of respect, bad hours, etc.

* inpatient only (but I think this is changing)

Pros for MD:

* get to work with the babies!

* VERY good pay

* can work outpatient

Cons for MD:

* VERY long schooling, no p/t as far as I know

* won't really have time to tend to family

* very expensive to obtain (4 years of med school vs. 2 years NNP, that's f/t)

* crazy hours during residency, fellowship, etc.

As I've mentioned above, family is first for me. After seeing the list I've made, it was clear to me that NNP is the way to go, for me. You'll need to make a list for yourself and find out what is important to you. Once you can prioritize and make a list, the decision should be a bit easier.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

p.s. thanks for the info on SB undergrad! I'm always interested to see what everyone thinks of NY area schools. I've always heard great things about SB for their other programs, so I was just curious about the nursing :)

Best!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2004

I know that I am going to definitely going to become an RN its just a matter of what to do after that. I have been trying to shadow someone but I can't find a hospital that will let me! They basically say that they don't do that.

I'm not surprised that more and more hospitals are limiting "shawdow" experiences nowadays. There is such a crack-down on privacy with HIPPA guidelines. If you're in nursing school, you should get at least one day in the NICU (just observation) during your peds or OB clinical rotation.

You don't have to decide now about NNP or MD, honestly. The best thing is to graduate with your BSN, get your license, and start working in a NICU. Why make such a huge decision now, when you have no experience working in a NICU? Interviewing people is okay, but until you're working there as an RN, you're really not going to know which position suits you better. I'd recommend starting work, and after a year, starting your NNP program - first will be all the general type master's courses, so by the time you're starting the actual NNP hands-on stuff, you'll have probably a good 2 years of NICU experience. Or, if after a year in nursing you decide being an MD is better for you, then you can start medical school. But since you're going for nursing anyway, might as well take that year to soak up the environment!

Good luck!

erilynn17 · Jul 22, 2004

This might be sort of random, but while working in a NICU I would want the oportunity to help with deliveries every now and then. I definitely don't want to do OB/GYN, but I think it would be kind of cool to deliver babies sometimes. I heard that NNPs sometimes help out w/difficult deliveries or C sections, and I was wondering if this is true, and also if the neo MD's help out at all. If anyone who works in a NICU can answer this, let me know. Thanks!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2004

This might be sort of random, but while working in a NICU I would want the oportunity to help with deliveries every now and then. I definitely don't want to do OB/GYN, but I think it would be kind of cool to deliver babies sometimes. I heard that NNPs sometimes help out w/difficult deliveries or C sections, and I was wondering if this is true, and also if the neo MD's help out at all. If anyone who works in a NICU can answer this, let me know. Thanks!

Most NICUs assign staff members to a "high risk delivery" team each shift, and when L&D is delivering a sick baby they page or call for the team to come running. We don't help out with the delivery at all (at least where I work) though. We stand around the baby warmer and make sure we have all our supplies ready. Once the OB pulls the baby out, it's handed right over to the team and we resuscitate the baby on the warmer. That, in itself, is an amazing experience. Sometimes the baby is pinking up and crying already...but other times there is no heart rate or breathing, and we do full CPR on those babies. The baby is so fresh, only seconds old, and we're the one saving it's life. It's dramatic and exhilerating, when things go well. It's devastating when they don't. But it's a high adrenaline situation, and many nurses love this challenge.

As for actually being the one to pull the baby out, that requires either an MD or a midwife. The malpractice insurance these professionals pay is out of this world. There are so many things that can go wrong - I'd never want that responsibility personally! But if you're really interested in this field, I'd reccommend you get your RN and then work in L&D. Once you get some experience (and I'm talking a few years at least) you can go back to school and become a nurse midwife. But it would be a good idea to experience it all as a nurse first, so you can see what each job entails. (And you know, once in a while the doc doesn't make it into the delivery room on time and the nurse ends up delivering the baby...)

erilynn17 · Jul 24, 2004

Thanks so much for the information! I think I'm really more into just caring for the babies, and not really L&D, so I would just rather work in the NICU. It does sound exciting to be around and care for the babies seconds after they are born. I know this seems like its so far away, but I'm just asking the questions as I think of them. But thanks for your advice, and I will just start as a nurse in the NICU and see where I want to go from there. How hard is it to get a job in a NICU fresh out of nursing school?

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2004

Our NNP's are not employed by the hospital at all. They work along with and part of the Neonatologist's practice, cover several hospitals, and take call on a rotation which is divided among the docs and NNP's. They don't get just weekends or nights. We call them to attend high-risk deliveries, but they are not in the house 24-7. We're just not a big enough unit for that. I'm sure they write RX's under the auspices of the MD's in their group, but the MD surely doesn't come behind and review or co-sign all their orders.

Purlple · Aug 12, 2004

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