Whats a Neonatal NP day like?

allnurses Guide · Oct 9, 2008

Might be a good idea to shadow one before undertaking the course?

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Oct 12, 2008

I am an NNP student, but I'll tell you what I do as an SNNP, and you'll get a decent idea of a "normal day."

I come in and get a medical signout on anywhere from 8-12 pts, depending on staffing and acuity. I review labs, weights, feeding tolerances, I&Os and am films. I try to assess as many babies as I can before rounds starts, along with the nurse's cares. I then sit down and make a plan for each patient for the day before rounds start. Plans can include weaning vent settings, ordering repeat labs, new meds, advancing feeds, discontinuing antibiotics, etc. I then present my patient, their findings, and my plan to the attending and others during rounds. Usually they agree with my plan, but sometimes I change plans based on our discussion. Once rounds are over, I write orders and daily progress notes, detailing what we did for the day, as well as pt condition, events, etc.

During the day we may get several admissions, get called to well-baby or L&D for deliver resuscitations, newborn checks, grunters/flaring babies, etc. We may need to start PICC lines, umbilical lines, intubate, aggressively follow critical babies, etc. We may also get called out on transport.

That's basically a day in my life as an NNP student so far....hope it helps some. You definitely spend much less time at the actual bedside than as an RN, but it still some. Probably more than any other NP specialty.

NICUplease · Oct 16, 2008

Thanks Steve,

You've been helpful before with some of my questions about a career as a NNP. I think NNP is the route I want to take. It seems like a lot of responsibility but also very rewarding. Bedside pt care is also very important for me to have so I'm glad to hear that you still do plenty of that. I'll be sure to do more research. Thanks again!