You’re an outstanding labor and delivery RN, a seasoned veteran of the NICU, or someone who just loves helping mothers-to-be. You’ve come the right place. If you’re already decided to aim for a DNP in neonatal nursing, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some background on the two disciplines, info on NCC certifications, and a summary of the DNP curriculum, read on!
Becoming a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
What’s the Difference Between Neonatal and Perinatal?
Both neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) and perinatal nurse practitioners are key players in the time around childbirth. The difference between the two lies in the scope of their duties. NNPs are involved with caring for newborn infants (neonates) who are at high risk or have critical health issues. Perinatal NPs tend to be responsible for helping mothers and babies in the period “around birth” – i.e. pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care.
The 4 Levels of Neonatal Care
- Level I – Well Newborn Nursery: Care for healthy, full-term infants. The role of an NNP in this situation is very limited.
- Level II – Special Care Nursery: Care for premature and sick infants in need of constant attention.
- Level III – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Care for critically ill neonates or premature infants with life-threatening health issues. These newborn babies may require ventilation or invasive care and must be monitored around the clock.
- Level IV – Regional NICU: The highest level of neonatal care. Regional NICUs conduct surgical repairs for complex congenital or acquired conditions and have a full staff of pediatric specialists on hand.
Perinatal vs. Neonatal
| Perinatal Nurse Practitioner | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Perinatal NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide healthcare to women and their infants during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Depending on their role and healthcare setting, perinatal NPs may be asked to assist with high-risk pregnancies and complicated labors. | Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who care for high-risk newborns in an in-patient neonatal setting (e.g. NICU). Their patients may include premature infants and/or babies with low birth weights, respiratory distress, cardiac problems, genetic disorders, and congenital abnormalities. |
| Role | In addition to administering treatments and interventions, perinatal NPs often act as trusted advisers and primary care providers. They counsel mothers on topics such as prenatal health, childbirth techniques, breastfeeding, and postpartum issues (e.g. depression), and usher families through a life-changing event. | Because neonates are so vulnerable, NNPs frequently deal with life and death situations. In addition to being responsible for delicate treatments and procedures (e.g. intubation), NNPs must be ready to talk to a frightened family about the state of their infant’s health and the steps that the team is taking to treat underlying medical problems. |
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Neonatal Nursing Certification Requirements
Once you have completed a master’s degree or DNP in nursing with a neonatal nurse practitioner focus, you are eligible to sit for national certification exams and pursue advanced state licensure. Since the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has retired their perinatal nursing credential, we’ve listed neonatal certifications offered by the National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Specialties (NCC).
However, please talk to your university and check with your State Board of Nursing for advice on which credentials to pursue. States will specify exactly which certifications you must have before they are willing to grant you an NNP license. DNP programs should also clearly state that they are accredited and able to prepare you for board certification. If you can’t find the information on the program website, ask the school for its student pass rates on certification exams.
NCC Certifications
The NCC offers a variety of specialty and sub-specialty certifications for neonatal nurse practitioners, including:
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP-BC)
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC)
- Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB)
- Maternal Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN)
- Low Risk Neonatal Nursing (RNC-LRN)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC)
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)
- Neonatal Pediatric Transport (C-NPT)
The most common one you’ll see in employment profiles is the NNP-BC.
NNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license
- Earn a master’s, post-master’s qualification, or DNP from a neonatal nurse practitioner program.
- Pass the NNP-BC exam administered by the NCC (applicants must take the certification examination within 8 years of graduation).
- Maintain your certification through continuing education.
Please check the NCC website for further details on eligibility requirements.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- The Academy of Neonatal Nursing (ANN)
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
- National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN)
- National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP)
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Specialties (NCC)
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical DNP NNP Curriculum
Most neonatal programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually concentrate on newborn health. Compare your options. Although most nurse practitioner DNP programs deal primarily with neonatal training, there may be doctorates in our program listings that are willing to address perinatal nursing as well.
Neonatal nursing is a highly technical field, so look for programs that will expose you to a wide variety of clinical experiences in a range of settings (e.g. children’s hospitals, step-down units, newborn nurseries, developmental follow-up clinics, and primary care settings). A fully qualified NNP should be prepared to assess – and care for – high-risk newborn infants in NICUs. Ask if the program meets NNP-BC certification requirements.
In terms of coursework, you can expect hardcore classes in areas such as embryology, neonatal physiology, pathophysiology, genetics, advanced neonatal assessment, and neonatal pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics. Since every DNP includes training in leadership and evidence-based practice, you may also be taking courses in research methods, biostatistics, healthcare policy, healthcare systems, and information technology. Your degree will culminate in an individual DNP capstone project.
Experience Requirements
Most NNP DNP programs will expect you to have at least 1-2 years of RN experience in a Level III NICU or neonatal intensive care nursery. Some schools may be willing to consider acute or critical care in a pediatric in-patient unit. Perinatal NPs may wish to work as a labor and delivery nurse to gain experience with high-risk pregnancies. It’s always a good idea to spend some time shadowing an APRN in your specialty before you make the decision to pursue a DNP.
Brush up on your first aid certifications. As well as the Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certification, schools may require you to have Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications and/or additional NICU or neonatal resuscitation qualifications. For perinatal NPs, the American Association of Family Physicians offers an optional protocol called Advanced Life Support for Obstetrics (ALSO).
Examples of DNP NNP Capstone Projects
- Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping in the Delivery Room for Infants 24-32 Weeks Gestation (Duke University)
- National Survey of Gavage Feeding Practices Used in Very Low Birth Weight Infants (Ohio State University)
DNP Programs with a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Focus
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Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has designed a post-BSN to DNP program for nurses who want to continue to work while pursuing an advanced degree with a specialization in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. Classes use a part-time online format, and students must come to an annual on-campus intensive once each year. The curriculum spans ten semesters, and during most semesters, students take two courses. However, during the third year - when students are completing their advanced nursing practicums and residency--they carry a heavier course load, totaling 32 credits over three semesters. During the final semester, candidates take a class on writing for publication and practice what they learn while completing the DNP project.
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track of University of South Alabama's DNP program is online and accessible for full-time RNs. Students typically do 600 hours of clinicals in a level-III NICU, though 25% of those hours can come at a surgical center. Students find their own sites, which means they can sometimes even complete them at the hospital where they work; the college also has extensive clinical affiliations for students to choose from. Students spend another 540 hours in a residency completing their final project. Post-baccalaureate entrants with two years of neonatal nursing experience complete 69 credits, while APRNs with neonatal certification do 36. Students have the option of adding two subspecialties. The nine-credit Advanced Forensic Nursing Care certificate is for APRNs interested in serving as sexual assault nurse examiners. Meanwhile, prospective professors can complete 11 credits for the Nursing Education certificate.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Colorado
Regis University
Denver, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who complete the post-BSN to DNP program at Regis University receive both an MSN and DNP upon graduation. Applicants who want to enter the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track must have at least two years of experience working in a Level 3 NICU. The program uses an on-campus format for the master's level classes while the doctoral level courses are delivered online with no on-campus requirements. Once students complete the master's portion of the degree plan, they can seek certification as an NNP and work as a Nurse Practitioner while completing the DNP requirements. NNP majors take classes in managing high-risk newborns, genetics and embryology, and care of children to the age of 2. They also take core courses in topics such as health care policy and leadership.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Illinois
Rush University
Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
From a base in urban Chicago, Rush College of Nursing students learn how to resuscitate newborns in the delivery room, intubate them, and keep them alive. That's if they join the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP track, a part-time online program that takes just over three years to complete. The college's Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing also runs the Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist track, which is similar in format. The two share most of the core classes, including epidemiology and evidence-based practice, pharmacology and physical assessment of newborns, and leadership and healthcare policy; NCNS enrollees get an extra three units in diagnostics. Within the specialty they take additional courses in case management and teaching, whereas NNP candidates stick to physiology, pharmacotherapeutics, and neonatal management. Twelve units of a DNP project wrap things up, bringing the total to 68 and 77 credits for the NNP and NCNS tracks, respectively.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a 73-credit program that requires students to take one or two courses per semester for five years. Students spend the first two years enrolled in core courses covering evidence-based practice, health care policy, ethics, and using information technology to transform health care. During the third year, students focus on completing their DNP project, including a DNP residency. In the curriculum's final two years, students concentrate on courses in the neonatal specialty, including the physiology of neonates, neonatal pharmacotherapeutics, and neonatal management. In their last year, students get hands-on experience working with neonates and critically ill infants in two semester-long practicums. Graduates are prepared to take the NNP certification exam.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
UIC College of Nursing offers neonatal nurses the best of both worlds in terms of urban and rural care. Students in its Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track can take advantage of practicum sites arranged for them in the Chicago area. They can also enroll in the Rural Nursing concentration to work in underserved areas. Five additional campuses throughout Illinois give enrollees flexibility to pick their own home base. From there, they'll take three concentration classes and associated practicums in neonatal management, which are divided into high-risk, acutely ill, and gravely ill newborns. Enrollees in the 84-credit curriculum also get exposure to family-centered care and perinatal nursing. They put it together during three DNP practicums that lead to a final project. The program takes BSN nurses three to five years to complete and two to four years for current APRNs. UIC's DNP Transition Program allows RNs without a BSN to apply.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Indiana
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
In just three years of full-time study, BSN-prepared nurses can become certified specialists in caring for premature and critically ill newborns through the University of Indianapolis. The BSN to DNP program uses instructors who are practicing NPs and neonatologists, and specialty classes are conducted face-to-face with some online elements. Core classes use an online hybrid format. When performing clinical observations and practicum experiences, students might work in critical care units around Indiana, including the Level 4 NICUs at St. Vincent's Hospital and Riley Children's Hospital. The School of Nursing also has a part-time DNP option for nurses who want to work while earning an NNP doctorate, but students must have flexible work hours so they are available for the required clinical sequences.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Kentucky
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP from the University of Louisville should pay close attention to the School of Nursing's schedule. The neonatal program accepts full-time students in even years and part-time students in odd-numbered years. However, the school only forms NNP cohorts when it receives "a minimum amount of qualified applicants." The program uses a hybrid format with four to six on-campus meetings each semester. Full-time BSN-prepared students can complete the 76-credit curriculum in nine semesters, as can master's-prepared nurses who want to add the NNP specialty. In the first few semesters, students concentrate on core classes such as leadership and evidence-based practice. Still, by the third semester courses include neonatal health assessment and human embryology. During the final year, students complete their neonatal residencies and work on the DNP project.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
BSN to DNP - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The LSU Health School of Nursing accepts RNs with two years of NICU experience into its Neonatal Nurse Practitioner BSN-DNP program. Applicants also need a 3.0 GPA, Louisiana licensure, and a combined GRE score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative GRE tests. Once admitted, enrollees have avenues for further specialization. They can add an APRN concentration by taking a course in Advanced Emergency Nursing, Advanced Nephrology Nursing, or Advanced Oncology Nursing. The program takes 81 credits, and the full-time plan can get students back to work in three years. While studying, though, they'll have to be dedicated, as each class meets at least six times per semester; practicums can be scheduled at all hours. Students take three advanced nursing practicums and three advanced neonatal nursing practicums: one each for critically ill neonates and premature babies, plus a final 300-hour practicum in conjunction with the delivery of their scholarly project.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Maryland
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
UM School of Nursing's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP track prepares graduates to care for newborns in Level II to IV NICUs and other healthcare settings. It makes it as easy as it can for enrollees to get there. The curriculum requires 80 credits at most, which can be completed in three, four, or five years. As for pathways, applicants can have a BSN, MSN, or APRN specialty in another field. The full BSN-DNP pathway consists mostly of didactic classes for the first year, with research methodology, writing, and healthcare policy complementing scientific coursework such as pathophysiology. Throughout the program, students learn how to diagnose conditions and manage care through immersive practicums. Nearly each term, starting in the second semester, they take a clinical experience. The first covers basic concepts. Subsequent practicums explore common health problems, acute conditions, complex clinical syndromes, and healthcare leadership. The final one synthesizes care and leadership.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Michigan
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)[BSN to DNP option]
Wayne State University has a 78-credit program leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a clinical specialty in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. The College of Nursing has pathways for nurses with a BSN and MSN-prepared nurses who don't already have a clinical specialty. Graduates are eligible to take the NNP certification exam. The curriculum includes 35 credits in classes dedicated to the neonatal specialty, and students spend three semesters of clinical practice working with neonates. Students also take courses in nursing theory, research and statistics, and the DNP domain of knowledge, which covers health care informatics, leadership, ethics, benchmarking, and economics. Candidates also perform three practicum semesters while conducting research for the DNP project.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Missouri
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Masters-prepared nurses who want to obtain the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner role as a first or second APRN specialty can complete the requirements in the Post-MSN to DNP program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The School of Nursing and Health uses an online-hybrid format for the NNP track and promises that the schedule is highly flexible to meet the needs of nurses who continue to hold a job. All five didactic neonatal courses are available online, and students can complete their clinical experiences at a Level 3 or Level 4 NICU near their home community. Graduates are eligible for the NNP national certification exam. MSN to DNP students must attend a two-day on-campus meeting at the start of their last year in the program. Students can attend an introductory session at the beginning of the program in person or virtually.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Nebraska
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP track at Creighton prepares Nebraska RNs to run the show in neonatal intensive care units. They're expected to have 4,000 hours of direct care in a NICU before beginning their clinical courses. Within the specialty, they'll complete five practicums, a residency, and two courses in managing high-risk newborns. The remaining units in the 68-credit program are split between research and theory, leadership and policy, and role support courses. That ensures students not only study embryology and pharmacology but also learn how to write a research paper and identify areas of improvement at a NICU. To appeal to students anxious to begin, the College of Nursing offers BSN-DNP start dates in January, May, and August. Courses are taught in a hybrid format, and students can choose a part-time path if they want to keep working.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in New York
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BS to DNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (PNP/NNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who enjoy working with newborns and want to provide both acute and primary care can train in a unique program at the University of Rochester. The School of Nursing's BSN to DNP program offers a dual specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. When performing their clinical hours, students work alongside an experienced NP preceptor with a similar specialty. The School of Nursing works with some 500 NP preceptors around Rochester and across New York, so it's able to match students with an appropriate mentor. The University of Rochester is part of the largest hospital and doctor network in the region, allowing nurses to build relationships with potential employers. Applicants for the PNP/NNP track should have at least two years of NICU experience.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Students in the BSN to DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program at Duke University receive both a master's and a doctorate in the specialty. The program trains nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to the family and to manage the care of infants in an interdisciplinary team. Clinical rotations may be scheduled in settings such as NICUs, neonatal transitional units, delivery rooms, and neonatal surgery units. The program is distance-based and requires students to have at least two years of full-time experience working with critically ill infants or neonates before they begin clinical courses. Students may enter the program while they are obtaining the needed work experience. The DNP requires at least 74 credits.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Ohio
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
Ohio State University's BSN to DNP program leads to a Master of Science in Nursing as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Students who complete the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track can also seek national certification in the specialty. The specialty classes for the NP track are available online or through face-to-face sessions at the campus in Columbus, Ohio. All of the DNP courses use an online format. The degree takes four years for full-time students and five years for part-time students, with the NP specialty courses and core DNP classes delivered in the first half of the program. During the last two years of study, candidates complete their DNP immersion experiences, conduct research, and write their capstone project.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Pennsylvania
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses in Thomas Jefferson University's post-BSN to DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program earn their Master of Science in Nursing midway through the program. That allows them to gain certification as an NNP before completing the doctoral requirements. For the DNP phase, candidates follow a customized plan of study the Jefferson College of Nursing prepares based on each student's preferred pace and schedule. All courses are online, and students can follow a full-time or part-time schedule. The neonatal program requires 69 credits, including core and specialty MSN classes, core DNP classes, and practicum experiences related to the practice inquiry project. Full-time students can earn both degrees in as little as four years if they enter in the fall semester. Students may also start in the spring or summer semesters.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Pitt School of Nursing attracts neonatal nurses to its onsite BSN-DNP program by charging nonresidents who enroll full-time the in-state tuition rate. The onsite Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track involves three years of study, beginning with a slew of didactic coursework. Additionally, students start prepping for their final DNP project by taking research and methodology courses in Year 1. Their first clinical comes at the beginning of Year 2. The 96-credit program covers a broad set of skills. That includes not only traditional DNP coursework like public policy and ethics but also a dose of grant writing, database management, and manuscript writing. Those are also included in the 42-credit MSN-DNP version, which is offered both on-campus and online. To get in, applicants need two years of neonatal nursing experience, good GRE scores, a GPA of 3.0 or better, and an RN license from any state.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration in its DNP program. Nurses who enter with a BSN must complete 61 credits. That includes 30 credits in concentration-specific courses such as maternal risk and classes in neonatal pathophysiology and pharmacology. Students also complete 30 credits covering the advanced nursing core and the DNP core. Students complete a DNP project in which they design a quality improvement project, implement it, and evaluate it. Graduates have the knowledge and skills to care for premature and critically ill infants through the first two years of life. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam for Neonatal NP. To enter this concentration, applicants must have at least one year of full-time practice experience working with critically ill newborns, infants, or children in an acute in-patient setting. That experience must have occurred within the last five years.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Texas
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with at least a year of experience in a Level 3 NICU unit can advance their career with a DNP in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Baylor University. Nurses with a BSN can complete the 75-credit program in a little more than three years, and those with an MSN can earn a degree in two years by completing 31 to 37 credits. Courses are delivered online, using traditional 15-week semesters. Students also travel to Waco, Texas, for immersions during the program. Specialized courses in the neonatal track cover topics such as embryology and developmental physiology, high-risk and critically ill infants, and caring for infants discharged from the NICU. Neonatal students may be able to perform their DNP project abroad or to assist graduate faculty with international research.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Accreditation: CCNE
Entrants into the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP track at Utah move through a three-year program as part of a cohort. Along the way, they take both campus-based and distance learning courses in subjects such as genetics, embryology, and epidemiology. Additionally, they take three classes toward their scholarly project, three neonatal residencies, and two neonatal practicums. The Interprofessional Education Experience and an elective add a bit of holistic learning to the curriculum. All told, the BSN-DNP track takes 76 credits to complete. The College of Nursing requires incoming students to have a 3.0 from a BSN program, plus two years working with critically ill newborns or infants. It offers tuition reduction for students selected to serve as teaching assistants, and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program can wipe out 85% of debt for those who keep teaching after graduation.
Neonatal NP DNP Programs in Virginia
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who have at least two years of full-time experience working with critically ill neonates in a NICU or other critical care setting are eligible for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP at the University of Virginia. The pathway is open to nurses who have a BSN or a generalist MSN. The standard course of study devotes two years to the master's level components and another two years to the doctoral requirements. However, students who want to complete all the work in three years can seek approval from the program director to follow an accelerated plan. Part-time students can finish both degrees in five to six years. Students can complete their clinical hours at the UVA Medical Center or other sites around Virginia.