NNP Vs. PNP

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Dec 26, 2006

I'm not an NNP yet, but since noone is replying, I'll submit my meager experience with NNP's. I am currently working in a Level III NICU, and I plan on starting my NNP at Columbia University in NYC next fall. NNP's can intubate, place CVL/PCVL's, umbilical lines, chest tubes, pericardiocentesis, attend/manage high-risk deliveries, air/ground critical transport, write orders, round on pts, manage nursing staff education, etc. I have a particular interest in transport, especially neonatal air transport. I'm also planning on subspecializing in pediatric acute care, which should allow me to work in a peds clinic, or peds ER, in which I am also interested. I wish you the best of luck, PM me if you have any other questions, or just to be "study buddies" once you start school! :lol2:

KEVO05 · Dec 27, 2006

Thank you!! Are there any PNP's out there??

rnsrgr8t · Jan 15, 2007

I have been a PNP for 2 years. I work for a Children's Hospital in Urology (my first job out of grad school). I have a unique role since our specialty is medical and surgical. There are 2 of us on staff in our specialty. We are credentialed and are part of the hospital staff (life the physician's). I have my own subset of patients that I treat and follow (children with voiding dysfunction) on my own. State law does not allow me to see new patients on my own so my docs see them with me for the first visit (they are just there, I do the exam and plan of care) and I follow them on my own and bill under my name. I also work in with my docs during their regular clinics as well. We see patients together (they have packed clinics and this makes the clinics run smoother). My docs prefer to see their own post ops etc but having us in clinic really makes it run faster. I also do telephone triage. I have the authority to change the plan of care etc (treat UTI's, change catheters, start new meds etc) on their patients as well (it is all documented in the chart). I work M-Fri, no weekends or holidays and no taking call. My cowork has a simlar role as I and also follows the inpatients as well (I can do that to but their is not the need for both of us). My day is either seeing patients scheduled with me or working with the docs in clinic, answering phones, writing orders etc. There is enough staff to only do one session in clinic a day (am or pm 4 hour block). The other half of the day is for aministrative (phone calls etc). I keep very busy, rarely have down time etc. They hired me to take care of the children with voiding dysfunction b/c they are normally very labor intensive/time consuming visits. When I see them in clinic I have 30 minute blocks for them. I am not expected to rush and I can spend as much time as I want. As far as which specialty to pick for school, that will depend on what you want to do. I would not want to work in the NICU, that is why I did not do NNP. However, one of my classmates is also a PNP and she is working in a local NICU. I think it depends on the hospital. Hope this helps! Good Luck!