The neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) is a professional registered nurse with clinical experience in neonatal nursing who has received formal education with supervised clinical experience in the management of sick neonates. The NNP exercises independent judgment in assessment, diagnosis, initiation of delegated medical procedures, and evaluation which is consistent with state nurse practice laws, institutional guidelines, and the NNP’s education and experience.
Requirements
- Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
- Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
- Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
- Accepts and coordinates total care for a specific caseload of neonatal patients.
- Obtains health history both maternal and infant for all patients in the NNP’s caseload.
- Performs daily physical assessments and examinations.
- Orders and interprets diagnostic/laboratory studies.
- Diagnoses and treats neonatal disease processes.
- Documents daily on NNP data form, the daily diagnosis, changes and updates in plan of care.
- Prescribes and manages medication, fluid, respiratory, nutrition and other therapies.
- Prescribes specialty therapy consults as appropriate, i.e., PT, OT, hearing, speech, etc.
- Maintains therapeutic relationships with parents/families through counseling and teaching about their infant’s condition.
- Facilitate continuum of care through close coordination with the neonatologist, case manager, bedside nurse, specialty MD/Services, family and community services.