Pathways to Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/ Neonatal Critical Care

[amc510, MSN, RN]

Hello!

I am currently working to complete my last remaining pre-requisites in preparation for applying to Direct Entry MSN programs. I have a BS degree in Child Development and Family Relations and Psychology, but nursing has always been my dream career.

Ultimately, my goal is to be an NNP/ Neonatal Critical Care Practitioner. I have done extensive research, and it seems that the only path to this would be to become an RN, gain two years of NICU experience, and then apply to NNP programs at the Masters or Doctoral level.

Since I already have a BS degree, I am leaning towards direct entry MSN programs. The only direct entry NNP program I have been able to find is at Ohio State, but it seems that it's a similar flow, I would just be at one school for the duration.

Does anyone else have this goal? What have you found? What programs are you applying for? I am taking Anatomy this semester, and Physiology over the summer and then will be done with pre-reqs. My plan is to begin applying for admission in the Spring of 2019 to Fall of 2019.

Thank you!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

NNP requires 2 yrs nursing experience in a NICU. Going through a Direct Entry MSN will not save you any time if you can not secure a bedside nursing job in a NICU. The usual path is to get your BSN, then get a job in a NICU, then apply for a NNP program after you have 2 yrs experience or have the 2 yrs experience prior to graduation. NICU nurses are very protective of their patients. An NNP without 3-5 yrs bedside NICU experience will have a hard time getting respect from the bedside nurses.

Why not do an ABSN program, then get the experience in a NICU before getting your MSN?

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

Have to agree with Guy on this one! The reason such programs don't exist is because it would be very difficult to become a solid new grad NNP without NICU experience. No amount of formal education can replace the assessment skills and comfort with neonatal resuscitation that you'll learn at the bedside (the same reason CRNA programs require ICU experience). Unfortunately, entry-level RN/BSN/ABSN programs barely touch on NICU since it's such a niche-specialty, so 90% of your familiarity with preemies and newborns is learned on-the-job.

Your best bet is to start doing everything in your power to become a strong new grad NICU candidate when you graduate, since breaking into the NICU is notoriously difficult. There are a ton of things you can do to make yourself more marketable; some are easier and more useful than others. Join some NICU professional organizations (NANN, ANN) as a student and network at local chapter meetings if you can, volunteer as a cuddler, consider doing a research project in the NICU, consider taking your NRP certification, attempt to get a CNA position at the same hospital as the NICU you're interested in so you can apply as an 'internal 'candidate' (unfortunately, most NICUs don't actually have CNAs). IMHO, the most effective (and cheapest) thing you can do is to network with nurse managers, both in your clinicals and in your extracurriculars. It is also highly recommended that you get your BSN rather than your ADN (despite the fact that you areadly have a BS).

[amc510, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the comments! The NNP programs require 2 years of NICU experience prior to completing the advanced practice/NNP portion of the program. So essentially, you complete the pre-licensure portion of the program, pass the NCLEX and work as an entry-level RN for a minimum of 2 years before entering the specialty portion. But, I know that NICU positions are hard to come by, so that is my concern with this format.

The reason I am trying to avoid a BSN/ second bachelor's degree is financial. I cannot get any federal financial aid for a second bachelor's degree, as I have tapped out for undergrad. I can get financial aid for a Masters Degree, so that's the reason I am looking into entry level MSN programs. I'm not low income, but i certainly do not have an extra 60-100 grand lying around :).

The good news is that I am volunteering at a Birth Center/NICU, so I will have that to add to my resume. I am just getting started with that, but I will be doing lots of newborn cuddling as well as supporting patients and families in the birth center.

My top school choice, for an entry level MSN, does a final semester preceptorship in the specialty area of your choice, and I would be able to complete that in a NICU, and I was hoping that would also help give me an edge when finding a NICU position. Reading your comments, I am really thinking that might be super helpful- networking too.

I am definitely not interested in bypassing the experience part, my ultimate goal is NNP, but I don't expect to get there right away.

Thanks again for your input!