Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (NNP/NCNS)

These specialties within the DNP degree prepare students to provide advanced practice nursing care to neonates and their families. DNP applicants may choose preparation as either a neonatal nurse practitioner or neonatal clinical nurse specialist (GEPN applicants eligible for the Neonatal CNS specialty only). The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist specialties focus on care of low and high-risk neonates and their families in a variety of health care settings.

Students admitted to the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty must currently have a minimum of two years of practice experience in a critical care environment where high-risk neonatal care is provided, prior to admission. The setting is typically, but not always, a level III NICU. Because of this requirement, GEPN applicants are only eligible to apply to the Neonatal CNS (and not NNP) program.

Opportunities for both full and part time study are available for both NNP and NCNS specialties. Distance learning options are available for both the NNP and NCNS specialties.

• Practice Characteristics/Certifications
• Curriculum Overview/Clinical-Narrative
• Department of Family and Child Nursing

Specialties Info Contact

Susan Blackburn, PhD, FAAN, RNC
Department of Family and Child Nursing
Phone: 206-543-8218
E-mail: sblackbn at u dot washington dot edu