Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

About the role

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 consistent with state nurse practice laws, institutional guidelines, and the NNP’s education and experience. The NICU nurse practitioner operates within the framework of Driscoll Children's Hospital Mission Statement and Core Values.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• After concurrence with attending neonatologist, makes referrals to specialty physicians as appropriate.
• Documents daily on NNP data form, including 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 (e.g., PT, OT, hearing, speech).
• Maintains therapeutic relationships with parents/families through counseling and teaching about their infant’s condition.
• Facilitates continuum of care through close coordination with the neonatologist, case manager, bedside nurse, specialty MD/services, family, and community services.
• 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.

Requirements

• Current certification and licensure as a RN/Advanced Practitioner Nurse in the State of Texas.
• Texas Licensed Registered Nurse.
• National Certification as an NNP after receiving formal education acceptable to the Texas State Board of Nursing, or be currently enrolled in a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program and functioning as a Student Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
• Licensed to practice as NNP or Student NNP in the State of Texas.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Certified and Basic Life Support (CPR).
• Significant knowledge and experience within the neonatal service area.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree preferred (if no MS, title has been grandfathered in before January 2000).