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

Advanced practice options in neonatal nursing include preparation as either a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) or a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (NCNS). 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 specialtiies. The full time program is 6 quarters (1 1/2 years) and the part time program is 10-12 quarters 2 1/2 to 3 years in length. 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

Specialty 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