Can Neonatal Nurse Practioners Work In An Independent Clinic?

[SunshineeStudent]

I know that a Ped NP can open their own clinic and work independently, depending on the state, but can a Neonatal NP do the same? Of course they are trained for the highly specialized NICU but can they open their own clinic, hiring Pediatric NP for other ages and they(NNP)take the neonates?

Also this is the reason why I want to dual-track in Primary Care PedNP along with NNP.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

A neonate is classified as 30 days and under. An NNP trains to work in a NICU, so not much market to see an NNP versus a peds person. Why not just be a peds practitioner if you don't want to work NICU? Most don't carry a dual license.

[SunshineeStudent]

A neonate is classified as 30 days and under. An NNP trains to work in a NICU, so not much market to see an NNP versus a peds person. Why not just be a peds practitioner if you don't want to work NICU? Most don't carry a dual license.

Because I only want to have baby/toddler patients. I did not like working in the picu.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

It really wouldn't be worth getting a Neonatal NP if you aren't going to work in a NICU. You would be better off just being a peds NP working in a well baby nursery then. You are just starting as a student nurse, the real world is a much different place than working as an aide or being a volunteer.

[cleback]

I do not see you having much of an outpatient client base if you would only see patients in their first month of life.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

There is no need for a NNP clinic. NNP are hospital based some will assist in the ITAP (infant toddler assessment program= post NICU follow up) just like the neonatologist but they are not primary practitioners. The infants are followed by primary pediatrician and Pedi APN the clinic is mostly adjustment of dates and developmental monitoring plus apnea management before turning them over Pedi pulmonology.

You may want to actually start nursing school before deciding to have a highly specialized focused APN career. Many have interests that change once they progress in school and clinical rotations. You don't want to "pull the plug" do you not think NNP are involved when it's a preemie determined to be 22/23/24 weeks? It's an intense specialty with care and skills that don't fully transfer to other disciplines b

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Moved to the Nurse Practitioners forum for more input.

[babyNP., APRN]

The role of the NNP in an out-patient role is limited and with the APN Consensus Model starting to be heavily enforced, I doubt that this would be possible. Already acute care PNPs are being told they need a primary care designation to work in out-patient even though theoretically they provide a higher level of care than primary care and should theoretically be just fine in primary care in out-patient. This is not nationwide yet, but I assume that more and more states will follow this as the years ago by. The idea is that you shouldn't work in an area in which you were not trained, which isn't a bad idea by any means.

NNPs are licensed to work from 0-2 ages, but one's education is based around the first few months of life and no program that I know of concentrates any didactic or clinical time with older children entering their toddler years.

Essentially on both counts (legally to come & education wise), it wouldn't be a wise investment because you could have your shop closed out from under you and you wouldn't have the education to properly diagnosis and treat older children in the range of your license. I actually got a survey from the NCC (board that licenses NNPs) about one's extent of experience for the older ages so I wonder (and really hope) that they are considering limiting the scope of practice to an even stricter age range for safety.

If you want to do NICU follow up or well baby care, really better to be a PNP. As someone else noted, PNPs are frequently hired into newborn nurseries if you just wanted to see purely babies.

[SunshineeStudent]

Thank you!!! This is the best and most respectful answer I've gotten. I want to work in both worlds, essentially. It's certainly possible to get trained and certified in both. A member from one of my instructors family is going for PedNP/PsychNP. I have a long way to go but there's nothing wrong with starting your research early. Thanks again babyNP. Also, your Neonatal posts are awesome!

The role of the NNP in an out-patient role is limited and with the APN Consensus Model starting to be heavily enforced, I doubt that this would be possible. Already acute care PNPs are being told they need a primary care designation to work in out-patient even though theoretically they provide a higher level of care than primary care and should theoretically be just fine in primary care in out-patient. This is not nationwide yet, but I assume that more and more states will follow this as the years ago by. The idea is that you shouldn't work in an area in which you were not trained, which isn't a bad idea by any means.

NNPs are licensed to work from 0-2 ages, but one's education is based around the first few months of life and no program that I know of concentrates any didactic or clinical time with older children entering their toddler years.

Essentially on both counts (legally to come & education wise), it wouldn't be a wise investment because you could have your shop closed out from under you and you wouldn't have the education to properly diagnosis and treat older children in the range of your license. I actually got a survey from the NCC (board that licenses NNPs) about one's extent of experience for the older ages so I wonder (and really hope) that they are considering limiting the scope of practice to an even stricter age range for safety.

If you want to do NICU follow up or well baby care, really better to be a PNP. As someone else noted, PNPs are frequently hired into newborn nurseries if you just wanted to see purely babies.