Direct-Entry Programs with Neonatal Speciality

Sheri FNP-C · Feb 19, 2009

I don't have the answer you are looking for. From your background, I question if Neonatal NP is really what you are looking for. Those that I work with were exclusively trained to diagnose and treat premature newborns or those with significant cardiac or other anomalies. Basically, they are trained only to work in the NICU. With your holistic background and obvious love of babies, I was wondering if this was what you were looking for. :twocents:

nnp2be · Feb 20, 2009

I'm in a program at Ohio State in the neonatal program. We have all types of specialties for grad entry (aka direct entry), including both neonatal and midwifery. The program is typically 3 years long, except for the neonatal which is about 4-5. That includes two years of work as an RN, as required for neonatal np certification. It takes about a year and a half to two years for the pre-RN portion... we sit for the NCLEX after March of our second year.

Let me know if you have any questions, or PM me if you want to ask off the boards!

AcuteCareinProgress · Feb 20, 2009

Columbia http://www.nursing.columbia.edu/programs/neonatal.html

2bcurious · Feb 20, 2009

...columbia neonatal requires 2 year nicu exp

"Two years of experience in a high risk NICU prior to entry or one year of experience prior to entry and a continuation of full-time"

I've seen several postings supported here showing that neo/nicu programs all required some related exp prior to a NP focus.

AcuteCareinProgress · Feb 20, 2009

Not for the direct entry. Only if you're an RN applying for the MS portion only.

http://www.nursing.columbia.edu/programs/etp.html

CarolinaHurricaneFan · Feb 21, 2009

I was in a similar situation......B.S. and an M.S. in non-health care fields and decided to pursue nursing. I've just been accepted to a direct entry MSN program at East Carolina University. It's called the Alternate Entry-MSN program

( http://www.nursing.ecu.edu/ae_overview.htm ) and has NNP as a specialty track you can choose from. The first year is academic/clnicals, very intensive, and then you work as an RN beginning the 2nd year (after passing the NCLEX ofcourse) gaining the experience required for whatever track you choose (FNP, NNP, CNM, etc.).

This is just a brief overview of the program. Like I said, I just found out this past Saturday (Valentine's day of all days) that I'm accepted into the program so I can't tell you all the pro/con's of it. Do know that they accept 30 each year and admission is for the fall only here.

Hope this helps.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Feb 21, 2009

I am in the Columbia NNP program. If you enter as a BS prepared non-nurse into their ETP program, you first complete the bachelor's portion, then sit out a year gaining level III NICU experience before entering the Master's portion of the program. You then have to complete another year of full-time NICU work in addition to that first year before graduating.

NNP is one of the few specialties that requires level III NICU nursing experience. And rightly it should, IMHO.

AfterTheStork · Feb 21, 2009

Thank you!!

I have been wondering if there is some time that you work in the NICU before beginning master's coursework.

How do you like the program? I will be applying to your exact program for 2010. It's not my first choice, but only because of the price tag.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Feb 23, 2009

I am doing it as a traditional MSN/NNP, not an ETP. So I can only speak to the Master's portion, and I like it very much so far. You'll get lots of exposure to clinical leaders in research, genetics, epidemiology, etc... plus the two NNP profs are awesome.