neonatal, NNP

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to highlight evidence specific to the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) workforce related to successful mentoring programs. Specifically, the authors of this article explored recent evidence of mentorship to improve job satisfaction and retention of the NNP workforce. BACKGROUND: NNPs are valuable members of neonatal healthcare team. Because of the aging NNP workforce, methods to recruit, train, mentor, develop, and retain new NNPs are imperative...

BACKGROUND: Despite increases in nursing faculty diversity, representation is lacking in positions of higher faculty rank. Challenges for minority faculty include decreased awareness of promotion standards, less mentoring, and increased stress from being the sole representative of their respective underrepresented population. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to determine the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) faculty in the United States...

The need for neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) preceptors has never been greater. Precepting is a professional responsibility with both rewards and challenges. The recent pandemic has brought about new challenges, not the least of which is burnout from clinical, learner, and environmental demands. A new educational model from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National Task Force outlines educational and preceptor requirements aimed at improving the advanced practice educational experience for students and preceptors...

BACKGROUND: Infants with fragile skin pose challenges to neonatal providers, including the difficult nature of securing lifesaving devices. A paucity of information exists supporting best simulation practices in educating neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) students on how to care for infants with fragile skin. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether simulation improved student knowledge and self-confidence related to caring for infants with fragile skin. METHODS: This quality improvement project included a pre/posttest survey with a sample of 14 NNP students...

Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) are recognized as acute care providers but are actually both acute and primary care providers via education and practice. Neonatal nurse practitioners provide primary care such as anticipatory guidance, care and follow-up of technologically dependent infants, and discharge planning. Numerous interventions and care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) fall under the umbrella of health promotion, an aspect of primary care. In addition, NNPs must also be able to recognize, diagnose, and manage myriad common pediatric illnesses...

Background: Male circumcision is the most common surgical procedure worldwide and is often carried out for religious, cultural, medical and public health reasons. It is commonly performed during the neonatal period. Many studies have now shown that pain is a common intra- and post-operative complication. To ensure proper analgesia during the procedure, many surgeons opt for the use of pacifiers as an adjunct to anaesthesia during neonatal circumcision. The aim of this study is to compare nutritive pacifiers (NPs) versus non-NPs (NNPs) as adjuncts to local anaesthesia in male neonatal circumcision using the Plastibell technique...

BACKGROUND: Increased demand for nurse practitioners emphasizes the importance of consistent and ongoing collection of data to provide a better understanding of the NNP workforce and to promote retention and recruitment of NNPs. PURPOSE: To understand how work environment and work hours influence job or career satisfaction. METHODOLOGY: The National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners in collaboration with the National Certification Corporation emailed an online survey to all 6,558 certified neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) in 2020 with 845 (12...

BACKGROUND: Mentoring is a process in which a more skilled or experienced person builds a supportive relationship with a less experienced person to promote the latter's professional development. The National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) supports the establishment of formalized mentoring programs for neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) and published a mentoring toolkit in 2017. Completing suggested activities outlined in the toolkit promotes the incorporation of evidence-based practice into the NNP professional role...

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to characterise neonatal paediatric emergency department (PED) visits, analyse the main paediatric illnesses and establish associations of these demographics with the readmission rates and severity of their presentation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of neonates (aged <28 days) presenting to the PEDs of our hospital over seven months was performed. Associations between the clinical and demographic data of admissions to the PED and inpatient admissions were analysed...

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) recommended that organizations implement formalized mentoring programs for neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs). There is significant evidence to support that mentoring positively impacts nurse practitioners' job satisfaction and retention. However, there is a lack of evidence-based literature specific to NNP mentoring. PURPOSE: Determine the impact of participation in the NANNP formalized mentoring program on job satisfaction and retention for novice and experienced NNPs in an academic medical center in Tennessee...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated sweeping changes in a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) program's approach to distance-accessible learning. Prioritizing student learning and safety, we developed a new alternative model for individualized simulation. METHOD: The scenario created for a student to deliver an unexpected diagnosis of trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, to a postpartum mother was redesigned to take place using web-conference technology. RESULTS: We successfully transitioned the planned in-person individualized simulation for NNP students delivering an unexpected diagnosis to a web-conference environment and added nurse-midwifery (NM) students...

BACKGROUND: Perceptions of autonomy in practice affect Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) job satisfaction, retention, and motivation to pursue NNP roles. However, Novice to Expert theory describes the processes for transitioning to nurse practitioner roles are not in relationship with NNP practice autonomy. PURPOSE: Relationships between Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) practice authority, state restrictions, APRN volume, and health care access exist. However, do APRN perceptions of autonomy relate to motivation to pursue practice authority? This study provides an exploration of perceptions of NNP practice autonomy in this context...

BACKGROUND: The National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) partnered with the National Certification Corporation (NCC) to invite all NCC-certified neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) to participate in a national survey on NNP compensation, workforce environment, and satisfaction measures. PURPOSE: To understand the current NNP compensation, benefits, and workforce environment. METHODS: An anonymous survey was sent to 6558 board-certified NNPs with 845 respondents...

BACKGROUND: The need for neonatal advanced practice providers (APPs) has been described. Hospital training programs for neonatal physician assistants (PAs) have been developed by physicians. No publications exist about programs administered by neonatal APPs for both new graduate neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) and neonatal PAs. PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to mentor, train, and hire neonatal APPs in a program administered by neonatal APPs. METHODS: We developed a 2-pronged approach to attract PAs and new graduate NNPs...

NICUs have evolved in the last 20 years. Patients are being rescued at earlier gestation, and with this comes potential sequelae and complex issues throughout the hospitalization. As a result, there is an increased need for experienced, well-rounded neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) to care for these patients. Staff ratios are slow to catch up to the needs of the patients; NNPs are often caring for 15-30 patients at a time. This can leave the provider with a sense of not providing good enough care, burnout, and disillusionment with the reasons they entered school to become an NNP...

BACKGROUND: Literature dating back to 1982 supports the use of ultrasound to confirm UVC position as a more reliable method compared to x-ray. The use of ultrasound to confirm UVC position remains infrequent in the NICU. PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of training an NNP in the acquisition and interpretation of a parasternal short-axis (PSAX) image of the heart to confirm UVC position. METHODS: A retrospective review of 48 charts evaluated descriptive data using standard technique of an x-ray to confirm UVC placement...

There is a critical shortage of neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) in the United States. The NNP shortage increases workload and negatively affects job satisfaction, which ultimately impacts patient safety. Therefore, it is imperative to identify strategies to improve job satisfaction and retention. Authors of current evidence supported the connection between mentoring and role transition, job satisfaction, and intent to stay. Mentorship is key to the success of new graduate nurse practitioners as they develop confidence in the nurse practitioner (NP) role...

BACKGROUND: The role of the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) is well established in the neonatal intensive care unit. The level IV NNP is traditionally supported by large multidisciplinary teams while the level I to III NNP may be the sole in-house provider with limited resources. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research project is to identify the NNP role, responsibilities, and barriers to practice in the level I, II, and III newborn care settings. METHODS: This study used a descriptive, exploratory design to examine NNP roles and responsibilities in level I, II, and III care centers via an online survey...

This review is based on a Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals-sponsored presentation, "The Delicate Balance of Managing Oxygen Treatment in Neonates," delivered by Amy R Koehn, PhD, NNP-BC, at the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) 33rd Annual Conference, held in Providence, Rhode Island on October 11, 2017. In addition to focusing on the potential risks associated with exposing newborn tissues to episodes of lower (hypoxic) and higher (hyperoxic) than normal concentrations of serum oxygen, the current guidance for target saturation ranges and methods of tissue oxygenation measurements in neonates was reviewed...

BACKGROUND: Neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) procedural competence is essential. Procedural simulation provides opportunity to practice high-risk, low-frequency procedures and helps improve skill retention. A formal procedural simulation experience was created in an attempt to provide sufficient experience for NNPs. While preparing for the simulation experience, the group recognized the lack of validated competency metrics for most neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) procedures. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to create and validate procedural checklists measuring competence of NNPs participating in simulated performance of 9 high-risk NICU procedures...