The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner provides advanced practice nursing care to neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and/or newborn nursery. This role focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and management of high-risk and critically ill newborns in collaboration with neonatologists and multidisciplinary care teams.
Key Responsibilities
Provide comprehensive care to premature, critically ill, and medically complex neonates
Perform neonatal assessments, admissions, and daily patient management
Diagnose and manage acute and chronic neonatal conditions
Develop and implement individualized plans of care
Perform procedures within scope of practice, including intubation, line placement, and resuscitation as credentialed
Monitor patient response to treatment and adjust care plans as needed
Participate in neonatal resuscitations and high-risk deliveries
Collaborate with neonatologists, nursing staff, respiratory therapy, and ancillary services
Educate and support families regarding neonatal conditions and care plans
Participate in discharge planning and continuity of care
Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record
Support quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory compliance initiatives
Practice Setting
Neonatal intensive care unit and/or newborn nursery
Level II–IV NICU depending on facility
Shift-based coverage, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays as required
Patient Population
Premature and term neonates
Infants with respiratory, cardiac, neurologic, infectious, and congenital conditions
Qualifications
Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing
Graduate of an accredited Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program
National board certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Eligible for unrestricted nurse practitioner licensure in the practicing state
DEA registration or eligibility
NRP certification (or ability to obtain)
Skills & Competencies
Advanced neonatal assessment and critical thinking skills
Ability to manage high-acuity neonatal patients
Strong procedural and clinical decision-making abilities
Excellent communication and family-centered care skills
Ability to work effectively in a high-intensity, team-based environment