What is Life Like as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner?

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jul 14, 2022

Work/life balance is good for me. I have soooo much time off, I've actually just picked up a PRN position. I'm extremely happy I made the transition.

Pay is more than double what the nurses make generally. I work for a physician group and am salaried so it's not really apples to apples, but I do make about double what I made as an RN. I'm 1 year in, and I expect my salary to increase over the next 4 years. What you make will vary heavily depending on the location.

12 hours shifts are possible. You see them more at the bigger, busier hospitals.... Why you would want that for yourself? IDK? 24 hours are AMAZING, and I hated night shift FYI. Especially at the mid-sized to small NICUs. When I'm at the big unit, its always GO GO GO; very little sleep at night, but great for learning. At the smaller units, I always work 24s and 95% of the time I get 7-8 hours of sleep while getting paid. They will call and wake me up for labs and abnormals. Then I might work 1-2 shifts a week.

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2022

We call the NNP the eternal resident because she is always stuck with doing the slops the staff or moonlighter MD does not feel like doing.They work a series of 24 hour tours and some 12s,weekends and holidays too.Plus sharing a stinky bed from the previous user.LOL