What can i expect after becoming a Nurse & Nurse Practitioner?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I am studying as a pre-nursing student and plan to get my Masters and becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner in the future. What can I expect from the career field?

Any advice or information from current nurse practitioners would be great!

Some random questions:

I don't currently have a preference for working with healthy newborns or sick (I will probably decide later)

- if I cannot find a neonatal NP program in my state and I opt for a NP program in Pediatrics would it make it more difficult for me to work with newborns?

- If I graduate with my specialization being with newborns/children would I ever have to work with adults?

- what is a typical day or set of duties be like for an NP (I did my research but I want to hear it from a current NP). I've read that in some states NP's can open their own practices (under supervision or not).

-do any NP's act as the main caregiver in a clinic or medical establishment or do you always work under a doctor?

I understand that I have to work with adults while in nursing school but after graduating and hopefully getting a position in peds or NICU would I have to work with adults?

I apologize if this post sounds weird or the questions awkward but I just want some information on this field from current NPs and may not have the best questions to ask. Feel free to share any information you think is helpful for me to know!

Hopefully I get at least one response and no rude comments :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as a "neonatal NP program".

You can chose electives that pretain to pediactrics. And you can chose the subject as the basis for thesis papers and whatnot, but I don't think you'll graduate as a "neonatal NP". Maybe people more knowlegeable can correct me, but I believe the education that leads to licensure as a NP is a "general" education. You don't really emerge specialized in anything in particular.

Whether or not you work with adults as a NP is entirely up to you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. But in the RN program and the NP program, you will work with many adult and elderly patients. And you'll have to change adult diapers and all that fun stuff in your clinicals. Once you emerge as a licensed nurse, you can chose a nursing career that doesn't involve any of that, but be forewarned that you will be provided hands on care to incontinent adults as part of your nursing education.

Focus on getting your RN, that's the first step in this process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Focus on getting your RN, that's the first step in this process.

THIS.

There are NN NP programs out there...I scanned the Internet through Google and saw that Vanderbilt and Northwestern University have programs (I am sure there are more). Most of the NPs that I have interacted with that are NICU NPs locally were in the Acute Care tract of NP school.

I am hoping that a NP will respond to you who is in this field will give you a more focused in sight. :yes:

As far as nursing...in this climate, there are chances where you may end up working with adults before you get a NICU position, due to the over saturation of new and experienced nurses in a lot of areas. A lot of positions still want people to have Med-Surg or previous Critical Care and/or Peds experience before securing a NICU position, at least in my area.

I don't know if you did this already, but I would suggest to research your area in terms of nursing programs in your area, the nursing market for new grads, as well as NP programs...it's never too early to research which nursing programs that you want to apply to, if they have internships where you can go to a NICU; and the area and national facilities which have nurse residency programs where being in Critical Care or the NICU is possible. Keep looking into the schools, as they update their programs while you are completing your pre requisites, as well as which ones you need for the programs you are interested in. Hopefully the college you go to has a list of what pre-req's transfer over for the colleges you are interested in.

Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

First, I would clarify that NP training is specialized and there are Neonatal NP training programs with a corresponding board certification exam for graduates of Neonatal NP programs. While RN training (regardless of degree) is general in scope, all NP programs train towards a specialty. These are either: Primary Care (Family NP, Adult NP, Pediatric NP-Primary Care), Acute Care (Adult Acute Care NP, Pediatric NP-Acute Care), Women's Health NP, Neonatal NP, or Psych/Mental Health NP. Gerontological NP programs have been eliminated and incorporated into the adult-specifc NP programs.

Knowing that you are a pre-nursing student from your post, what particular things about the Neonatal NP role seem appealing to you? The reason why I ask is that Neonatal NP's have a very specialized training in caring for both well newborns and those who require care in Neonatal ICU's. Because of the highly specialized nature of the field, very few schools offer the program. The programs can be competitive to get admitted to and many will likely require experience as a nurse (RN) in a Neonatal ICU. Unfortunately, there is no reliable listing of all the Neonatal NP programs in the US.

There are about 18 or so states where NP's are independent and can practice without having a physician involved in collaboration or supervision. In these states, NP's can open their own practice or join an existing practice as a fully independent provider by law. However, NP's still have to practice within the scope of their education, training, and certification as defined by the respective Boards of Nursing where they practice.

Neonatal NP's can only provide care to newborns, Pediatric NP's can only provide care to individuals 18 and younger, Adult NP's can only provide care to individuals 13 and older. Family and Psych/Mental Health NP's provide care to individuals of all ages. The primary care vs acute care roles are also becoming more defined in some states where restrictions are being implied as far as NP's not being allowed to cross over both roles if their training only covered one role and not both.

I, however, agree with the above poster about focusing on getting your BSN and see where that takes you first. It may be too early to commit yourself to a career as a Neonatal NP without having the actual exposure to the field. There are many other fields of nursing that may end up being more interesting to you as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

BTW, I am a nurse practitioner trained in an Adult Acute Care NP program and certified as such. You may want to post in the Neonatal ICU Forum (Critical Care Tab on the yellow strip above). There is a Neonatal NP that posts there regularly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg, Tele, ER, ICU, Float.
First, I would clarify that NP training is specialized and there are Neonatal NP training programs with a corresponding board certification exam for graduates of Neonatal NP programs. While RN training (regardless of degree) is general in scope, all NP programs train towards a specialty. These are either: Primary Care (Family NP, Adult NP, Pediatric NP-Primary Care), Acute Care (Adult Acute Care NP, Pediatric NP-Acute Care), Women's Health NP, Neonatal NP, or Psych/Mental Health NP. Gerontological NP programs have been eliminated and incorporated into the adult-specifc NP programs.

Knowing that you are a pre-nursing student from your post, what particular things about the Neonatal NP role seem appealing to you? The reason why I ask is that Neonatal NP's have a very specialized training in caring for both well newborns and those who require care in Neonatal ICU's. Because of the highly specialized nature of the field, very few schools offer the program. The programs can be competitive to get admitted to and many will likely require experience as a nurse (RN) in a Neonatal ICU. Unfortunately, there is no reliable listing of all the Neonatal NP programs in the US.

There are about 18 or so states where NP's are independent and can practice without having a physician involved in collaboration or supervision. In these states, NP's can open their own practice or join an existing practice as a fully independent provider by law. However, NP's still have to practice within the scope of their education, training, and certification as defined by the respective Boards of Nursing where they practice.

Neonatal NP's can only provide care to newborns, Pediatric NP's can only provide care to individuals 18 and younger, Adult NP's can only provide care to individuals 13 and older. Family and Psych/Mental Health NP's provide care to individuals of all ages. The primary care vs acute care roles are also becoming more defined in some states where restrictions are being implied as far as NP's not being allowed to cross over both roles if their training only covered one role and not both.

I, however, agree with the above poster about focusing on getting your BSN and see where that takes you first. It may be too early to commit yourself to a career as a Neonatal NP without having the actual exposure to the field. There are many other fields of nursing that may end up being more interesting to you as well.

Thanks for the detailed explanation and suggestion. I'm in the exact position as the original poster...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First, I would clarify that NP training is specialized and there are Neonatal NP training programs with a corresponding board certification exam for graduates of Neonatal NP programs. While RN training (regardless of degree) is general in scope, all NP programs train towards a specialty. These are either: Primary Care (Family NP, Adult NP, Pediatric NP-Primary Care), Acute Care (Adult Acute Care NP, Pediatric NP-Acute Care), Women's Health NP, Neonatal NP, or Psych/Mental Health NP. Gerontological NP programs have been eliminated and incorporated into the adult-specifc NP programs.

Knowing that you are a pre-nursing student from your post, what particular things about the Neonatal NP role seem appealing to you? The reason why I ask is that Neonatal NP's have a very specialized training in caring for both well newborns and those who require care in Neonatal ICU's. Because of the highly specialized nature

of the field, very few schools offer the program. The programs can be competitive to get admitted to and many will likely require experience as a nurse (RN) in a Neonatal ICU. Unfortunately, there is no reliable listing of all the Neonatal NP programs in the US.

There are about 18 or so states where NP's are independent and can practice without having a physician involved in collaboration or supervision. In these states, NP's can open their own practice or join an existing practice as a fully independent provider by law. However, NP's still have to practice within the scope of their education, training, and certification as defined by the respective Boards of Nursing where they practice.

Neonatal NP's can only provide care to newborns, Pediatric NP's can only provide care to individuals 18 and younger, Adult NP's can only provide care to individuals 13 and older. Family and Psych/Mental Health NP's provide care to individuals of all ages. The primary care vs acute care roles are also becoming more defined in some states where restrictions are being implied as far as NP's not being allowed to cross over both roles if their training only covered one role and not both.

I, however, agree with the above poster about focusing on getting your BSN and

see where that takes you first. It may be too early to commit yourself to a career as a Neonatal NP without having the actual exposure to the field. There are many other fields of nursing that may end up being more interesting to you as well.

Ok, thanks for that info. I always assumed NP education was general in the same sense RN education is. Guess I should do a little google research before I assume. ;). Apologies to OP for misinformation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First, I would clarify that NP training is specialized and there are Neonatal NP training programs with a corresponding board certification exam for graduates of Neonatal NP programs. While RN training (regardless of degree) is general in scope, all NP programs train towards a specialty. These are either: Primary Care (Family NP, Adult NP, Pediatric NP-Primary Care), Acute Care (Adult Acute Care NP, Pediatric NP-Acute Care), Women's Health NP, Neonatal NP, or Psych/Mental Health NP. Gerontological NP programs have been eliminated and incorporated into the adult-specifc NP programs.

Knowing that you are a pre-nursing student from your post, what particular things about the Neonatal NP role seem appealing to you? The reason why I ask is that Neonatal NP's have a very specialized training in caring for both well newborns and those who require care in Neonatal ICU's. Because of the highly specialized nature of the field, very few schools offer the program. The programs can be competitive to get admitted to and many will likely require experience as a nurse (RN) in a Neonatal ICU. Unfortunately, there is no reliable listing of all the Neonatal NP programs in the US.

There are about 18 or so states where NP's are independent and can practice without having a physician involved in collaboration or supervision. In these states, NP's can open their own practice or join an existing practice as a fully independent provider by law. However, NP's still have to practice within the scope of their education, training, and certification as defined by the respective Boards of Nursing where they practice.

Neonatal NP's can only provide care to newborns, Pediatric NP's can only provide care to individuals 18 and younger, Adult NP's can only provide care to individuals 13 and older. Family and Psych/Mental Health NP's provide care to individuals of all ages. The primary care vs acute care roles are also becoming more defined in some states where restrictions are being implied as far as NP's not being allowed to cross over both roles if their training only covered one role and not both.

I, however, agree with the above poster about focusing on getting your BSN and see where that takes you first. It may be too early to commit yourself to a career as a Neonatal NP without having the actual exposure to the field. There are many other fields of nursing that may end up being more interesting to you as well.

Thank you for responding! This has helped me a lot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as a "neonatal NP program".

You can chose electives that pretain to pediactrics. And you can chose the subject as the basis for thesis papers and whatnot, but I don't think you'll graduate as a "neonatal NP". Maybe people more knowlegeable can correct me, but I believe the education that leads to licensure as a NP is a "general" education. You don't really emerge specialized in anything in particular.

Whether or not you work with adults as a NP is entirely up to you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. But in the RN program and the NP program, you will work with many adult and elderly patients. And you'll have to change adult diapers and all that fun stuff in your clinicals. Once you emerge as a licensed nurse, you can chose a nursing career that doesn't involve any of that, but be forewarned that you will be provided hands on care to incontinent adults as part of your nursing education.

Focus on getting your RN, that's the first step in this process.

Thank you for responding!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

THIS.

There are NN NP programs out there...I scanned the Internet through Google and saw that Vanderbilt and Northwestern University have programs (I am sure there are more). Most of the NPs that I have interacted with that are NICU NPs locally were in the Acute Care tract of NP school.

I am hoping that a NP will respond to you who is in this field will give you a more focused in sight. :yes:

As far as nursing...in this climate, there are chances where you may end up working with adults before you get a NICU position, due to the over saturation of new and experienced nurses in a lot of areas. A lot of positions still want people to have Med-Surg or previous Critical Care and/or Peds experience before securing a NICU position, at least in my area.

I don't know if you did this already, but I would suggest to research your area in terms of nursing programs in your area, the nursing market for new grads, as well as NP programs...it's never too early to research which nursing programs that you want to apply to, if they have internships where you can go to a NICU; and the area and national facilities which have nurse residency programs where being in Critical Care or the NICU is possible. Keep looking into the schools, as they update their programs while you are completing your pre requisites, as well as which ones you need for the programs you are interested in. Hopefully the college you go to has a list of what pre-req's transfer over for the colleges you are interested in.

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much! I have done some research. There are no neonatal programs in my specific state but there are some in states a couple of hours away. I will have to continue my research :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Juan... Very helpful and informative response. I have wondered about the NP specialties as well. Thank you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are so many DNP options. Check out the University of Tennessee Health and Science Center in Memphis!

DNP Options

Acute Care Nursing

Family Nursing

Forensic Nursing

Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Public Health Nursing

Nurse Anesthesia

Pediatric Nursing

Neonatal Nursing

Dual: Acute Care/Family Nurisng

Dual: Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nursing

UTHSC: Doctor of Nursing Practice

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment