Can NNP's work anywhere else outside of NICU?

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 30, 2017

I've known some in a more "normal newborn" setting and in the L&D setting Some people advance to be the coordinator of NNP's or have an academic career (teach and research) focusing on neonatesl. -- But if your specialty is sick neonates (which what people study in NNP school) ... you're going to find most of your career opportunities in delivery suites or nurseries of one kind or another.

I see from your post above that you have only 6 months of experience. Perhaps you should wait a while before becoming an NNP to make sure it is something you really want to do long term. If you are still thinking that you might want to switch specialties, then maybe it is premature to invest in grad school at this time.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Aug 31, 2017

Unfortunately, that's one of the major drawbacks of being an NNP. If you'd prefer a slower pace there are NNPs who only work at Level II units; unfortunately, if a baby does decide to crump on one of those units, the NNPs are still accountable for being able to intubate, drop lines, tap pneumos, etc. (even if they haven't done it in years).

In the regions where I've worked, the neonatology practices only cover the NICU patients, and the 'well babies' on postpartum are covered by general pediatrics practices. Therefore, the NPs who cover the 'well newborns' on postpartum are PNPs rather than NNPs; however, the pediatrics groups might be open to hiring NNPs who only cover the well baby exams (though that might get very boring very fast).

I suppose if you really wanted to work outpatient you could get a post-masters certification as a PNP, although you'd probably face some roadblocks if all of your experience is with NICU babies.

Some Neonatology practices also run Developmental Follow-Up clinics for NICU graduates up to a couple of years old. There's a very small possibility that you could work for one of those practices, although I wouldn't bank on it. There aren't very many of those clinics, most only run a couple of days a week, and I doubt they hire very often.

babyNP., APRN · Aug 31, 2017

yeah, being a NNP is nights, holidays, and weekends for the rest of your career. I didn't mind being pigeon holed because I like babies and don't want to do anything else except on my crazy days when I think about women's health.

I don't have much to add to the above posters, but I want to reiterate what one of them said that you're still very new to the profession. Give yourself some time. Lots of NICU RNs become PNPs and like what they do, working in a clinic with M-F business hours.

But if you like babies, NNP is the way to go. You could also possibly work as a NNP/PNP as a newborn rounder at a hospital where you just see normal newborns.

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2017

I have struggled with this myself and was at a crossroads last summer as to whether or not I should start applying to NNP programs or explore other specialties before I made that big leap. One of the areas I wanted to explore was school nursing. I am now in my second year of school nursing and I love it! I pick up in my old NICU a few times a month and for now I'm happy with this arrangement. So I guess my advice is to use this time to explore any other areas of nursing you might be interested in before you decide to become an NNP because, like you and others have said, it's very specialized.