Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP · Sep 3, 2015

I'm training to be an ANNP in the UK at the moment. I've always wanted to do it since my nurse training, one of my supervisors was an ANP and I loved the role. So 11 yrs on as a NICU and transport nurse, I finally am doing to course!

Am enjoying the new role, it's very different though. I feel that I don't 'know' the babies and families so much, we see our room of 6 ICU patients and then do anything they need, so procedures, ordering bloods, speaking to other specialities etc, also helping out in the other rooms if they are busy or the docs are junior. on top of that we have the delivery bleep, so back and forth for instrumental deliveries, sections and reviewing infants with low sugars, rashes, temp etcetc on the poastnatal ward.

I'm really enjoying it, it's a steep learning curve and being back at uni is weird but it's what I've always wanted to do :)

Good luck!

hellonewyear, BSN · Sep 10, 2015

I wanted to bump this thread a bit, and also give a big thank you to everyone for sharing such insightful posts! I, like the OP, am quite eager to hear what the day-to-day role of an NNP comprises. It's nice to read firsthand accounts from those in the field.

Proton · Feb 20, 2016

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It makes a difference to hear personal accounts!

babyCNP · Apr 23, 2016

Hi there, I am a new grad NNP, but also had 5 years experience as a NICU nurse before transitioning into my new role. It seems I ahve chosen a similar username to a frequent poster in here (BabyNP) So for that I am sorry... maybe we can help support the NNP community together. I would love to help anyone thinking about NNP school or going through the experience now. I would like to be more active on AN especially since the NNP community is so underrepresented here from what I can tell :) nice to meet you all.

MrsNICU · Apr 25, 2016

Hi there, I am a new grad NNP, but also had 5 years experience as a NICU nurse before transitioning into my new role. It seems I ahve chosen a similar username to a frequent poster in here (BabyNP) So for that I am sorry... maybe we can help support the NNP community together. I would love to help anyone thinking about NNP school or going through the experience now. I would like to be more active on AN especially since the NNP community is so underrepresented here from what I can tell :) nice to meet you all.

Hello I am starting an NNP program in the fall and am always interested in hearing about the experiences of others. I worked in a level 3 NICU for almost 5 years and then I did case management for the NICU population for almost 6 and I am now working in a level 2 nursery (because it's really close to home, or would have went back to the level 3) my passion has always been NICU, I am concerned that I have been out of the level 3 environment for so long that I may struggle significantly. I already have a masters degree, but I am nervous about getting back into the class setting. Most of my classes are online but some are in class. Any tips for a starting NNP student will be greatly appreciated[emoji51].

babyNP., APRN · Apr 26, 2016

Welcome to allnurses. There are a few nnp posters but usually sporadic. Feel free to take up the torch. I check the forum fairly regularly, although answering the same question time after time gets tiring, so I usually refer to my previous posts. I certainly don't have a monopoly on the role of nnps though, so feel free to add your voice to the conversation

babyCNP · Apr 26, 2016

So someone by the name of BabyRN21 messaged me and I spent time typing up a whole response to them but AN won't let me send a PM because I haven't posted enough. I'm sorry! If you see this, babyRN21, please e-mail me at [email protected] . I would love to answer your questions! And to MrsNICU, if this is something you really want to do, I believe you can do anything if you put your mind to it! You have level 3 experience, and I bet that a lot of the knowledge would come right back to you :)

victoriam791 · Jun 11, 2016

Hi! I am an RN finishing up my bachelors degree. I always figured I would gain my 2 years experience in a NICU and continue with a NNP program. I recently spoke with a geriatric NP I worked with, and she told me she thought the specialty was too narrow and that I would have a lot of difficulty finding a job. This was greatly discouraging to me. Have any of you found this to be the case? She suggested that I broaden my specialty. I have always felt lucky that I knew exactly what I wanted to do "when I grow up", but now I'm not so sure. :down:

babyNP., APRN · Jun 12, 2016

Um...does she have any experience with NICU? There is actually a national shortage of NNPs. It's not so hot that you can guarantee a job in your city right off the bat as a new grad unless you live in a large metropolitan area, but trust me, there scores of jobs available.

End of the day: Do you like babies? I do. Do you like big people? I don't. I would never be happy taking care of the big people, especially in-patient.

LizzardRN · Jul 10, 2016

Hi babynp! I am starting on my DNP for NNP this August and I am hoping you might be able to tell me a little about the school process and how it went for you? I am starting to get nervous for the next three years. I have read several of your posts on NNP and found them very informative and helpful so I actually joined this site to hopefully follow you and learn more! I come from a level 3 NICU and have 3.5 years of experience. We do not have NNPs in my NICU so I was not very familiar with the role- I just knew I wanted more autonomy in the NICU setting. NNPs in my area (Kentucky) are difficult to come by and I do not know any! Thank you in advance for any advice/guidance.

Liz

babyNP., APRN · Jul 10, 2016

Hello, welcome to AN and congrats on starting school!

I have posted about my school experiences in my past posts. Do you have a specific question that I can answer?

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jul 12, 2016

NNPs in my area (Kentucky) are difficult to come by and I do not know any!

What part of Ky are you in? A co-worker has a job lined up when he graduates next April.