Can't find many NNP programs anymore - What's going on?

[beccabeth741]

Hey guys,

I'm currently preparing for nursing school, but my long-term dream job is to be a NICU nurse and eventually an NNP. I know it's a ways off, but I'm just curious if anyone has heard anything about several NNP programs closing? I can only find a handful searching Google, and many seem to be phasing out their MSN programs in favor of DNP programs, or just no longer offering an NNP track at all. Even many of the programs on the NNP programs thread on this board are no longer offered. I know the push for the DNP implementation by 2015 is around, but I'm kind of concerned by how most of the programs seem to be disappearing completely! Does anyone have any insight? Thanks!

[chare]

One of the factors that I know of for a fact, is that NNP's are not being as utilized as much in hospitals.

Source?

The use of an NNP would depend on how many medical schools and access to residents in a geographical area.

How do you see access to residents as a factor in the use of NNPs? Most NNPs practice on a level similar to that of a neonatal fellow, not pediatric resident.

Also, not every hospital has a NICU and think about how many each of them need..not many.

I am unsure as to the number of NICUs, but would presume that there are more than you think. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn describes four levels of neonatal care. As the requirements for a level II nursery are definitely within their capability, an increasing number of community hospitals are creating special care nurseries.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

I have agree with Jory. We actually used MORE NNP's 10 years ago than we do now. I work at a teaching hospital and have seen this trend in our area. It is partly due to the physicians groups, some are very closed minded to APNs. Our hospital no longer even employs CNMs. Private hospitals are more apt to use practitioners in their level 2 nurseries. I hate we don't have as many practitioners, they are our lifesavers. And it seems they like to use more residents to cover because their salary is not the same as an NNP.

[liteon]

I have been worried about this as well. This is an old thread but I'm wondering if there's been an improvement in the amount and number of nnp schools?

As to the above poster, resident staffing directly affects NNPs because usually in many (?most) places, the nnps share the patient load with residents. E.g. There is usually a resident team and a NNP team or there is a team where nnp and residents split the load. So if there is less of one, the other has to be adequately staffed to handle the load. Now, residents can "only" work 80 hour weeks, so the days of hospitals getting free labor for 120 hours a week are over. So the demand for nnps and other professionals has to go up.

[Calalilynurse]

My city has two nicus and the hospitals are sisters that share docs and nnps. They have 8 or 9 nnps that work 24 hour shifts and staff both hospitals. They work under 3 doctors and have no residents. They very rarely hire unless some one leaves. USA and UAB have the only nnp programs in the state. They don't have any plans to increase the number of nnps.