Nnp

Specialties NICU

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Are there any Neonatal Nurse Pracitioners out there? Are their any good programs in CA to obtain this license that you know of? Was the graduate study difficult, rewarding? How do you like your job? Stress level, your own personal health, time, wages, respect and treatment? Any informatio will help?

You may want to also post this question in the NICU forum.

I live in Texas so I'm not sure about NNP's in Ca. There are lots of them in Texas. There is quite a bit more responsibility than being an RN. The stress level will be higher because there will be more responsiblity and you will likely have to attend deliveries and maybe go on transports. The skill level is much higher for NNP's (intubation, PICC lines, UAC/UVC, needle aspiration, etc..)

I'm sure that the education is intense, but if it's something that you really want then you will likely enjoy it.

Shifts for NNP's can vary greatly. I've heard of some that strictly work days and no weekends, but that isn't the norm. You will likely have to work 24 hour shifts and be expected to take call.

Your wages should be pretty decent. In Texas an NNP can make anywhere from 50K-80K on average and in California that would likely be double because your cost of living is about double.

As far as respect goes that will just depend on where you work. I think in general that NNP's are respected, but as I mentioned that will depend on who you work with and where you work.

If you have any more questions let me know!

Good luck!!

Specializes in ICU.

I am moving this to the NICU forum so that it will get a better response.

I was wondering how does a 24 hour shift affect your health as a person? I have read that this kind of work increases heart problems, gastrointestinal, etc. Do you notice that a lot of nurses have health problems?

Well you don't actually have to work the whole 24 hours straight. I think that in some units would work during the day (making rounds, etc...) and then you just need to be available that night for deliveries, problems, etc... I'm sure that you would be sleeping in the on call room, but I'm sure that it won't be quality sleep.

Residents and interns work 24-36hour shifts all the time. That would be an interesting population to study the affects of sleep deprivations, odd hours, etc...

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