Choose the Best Online Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Program for You

Note: Please check the school’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Related Programs

At the master’s level, there are a number of nursing programs with concentrations in the field of neonatal care. But before you decide whether or not you’d like to enroll in an online neonatal nurse practitioner program, it’s important to consider the array of specializations within the nursing field. Exploring your options can help you to determine which online MSN program is right for you. You may find that you’ll benefit from completing an online nurse practitioner program as opposed to another type of program—it all depends on your specific career goals. Here is a list of a few related graduate programs that you may be interested in:

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Programs: As a women’s health nurse practitioner, you may provide gynecological assistance, low or high-risk pregnancy management, family planning, or STD prevention, screening, and treatment to women under your care. And WHNP programs may prepare you to do just that.

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): Certified nurse midwives are experts in the area of reproductive health and—more specifically—childbirth. CNM programs allow students to gain knowledge and skills that prepare them to attend births, conduct annual examinations, prescribe medication, and provide counseling to mothers.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): FNP is one common career path for nurse practitioners. FNPs care for patients of all ages, working with families and individuals to implement health-management plans and provide preventative care. Explore online FNP programs.

Choosing an Online School for Your NNP Program

What do you want to get out of your degree? Where do you want to practice after you graduate? When it comes to deciding which programs you should apply to, there are plenty of factors to consider before you arrive at a thoughtful conclusion. We explore a few of the variables below.

Your Goals

Think about what kind of clinical work you want to do when you graduate. Certain programs may better prepare you for your preferred work environment or fit better with your schedule. Here are a few options to consider:

• Dual-degree programs: Dual degree programs allow you to work toward two degrees at the same time. A student who opts to follow this path may receive two master’s degrees in two different disciplines, such as nursing and business.
• Synchronous programs: Synchronous online learning attempts to mirror the structure of in-person education. Your online courses may be taught in real time by a professor who sets the class schedule—the same as if you were on campus.
• Asynchronous programs: Asynchronous online learning generally gives you the freedom to build your own schedule. Pre-packaged coursework and lesson plans are available for you to access and complete on your own time.

Speaking to current or past students and faculty to see if their experiences are congruent with your goals is another useful strategy for finding the best program for you.

Program Accreditation

Program accreditation isn’t just a formality—it may be a requirement in your state to pursue licensure. In fact, you may not be able to apply for licensing if your coursework wasn’t completed at an accredited institution. Even if a given position or certification doesn’t demand accredited coursework, accreditation may help to give you an edge over competing applicants. Double check to make sure your program is accredited from a third-party organization like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Admission Requirements

In addition to application and tuition costs, admission requirements may be a deciding factor for certain prospective students. Requirements may include RN licensing, prior clinical experience, GRE and GMAT scores, and a minimum GPA, but it’s important to keep in mind that the complete list will vary by program and school. Once you narrow down your top schools, make sure you meet all of the requirements before applying.

Curriculum

Are there specific courses or class schedules that you are looking for? If you plan to continue working part-time, you may want to make sure your chosen online NNP program fits your lifestyle. If you have your eyes set on a specific postgraduate career or research path, see if the curriculum touches upon your interests. Courses in an online NNP program might include:

• Early assessment and evaluation: This course teaches students to assess and identify high-risk neonates and evaluate treatment options before birth.
• Neonatal Pathology: In this course, students learn how to identify and treat common life-threatening illnesses encountered by neonates.
• Technology and Management: This course introduces students to the advanced nursing management and technology needed by critically ill neonates and their families.
• Pharmacology: Students who take this course develop medical pharmacology knowledge specific to neonatal nurses.

Clinical Hours Experience

Many advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) programs, including a few of the online neonatal nurse practitioner programs listed above, require students to put in a minimum of 500 hours of clinical work. These hours allow students to gain real-world experience and put their knowledge to the test.

Additionally, many programs request students to have one or two years of clinical experience under their belt in either a level II, III, or IV NICU before being offered admission. Before applying, check with your state’s nursing board or the school’s admissions office to make sure you meet your program’s clinical requirements.

State Authorization

Where do you plan on practicing once you graduate? Where do you plan on completing your program’s clinical requirements? If your online NNP program requires same-state clinical work, geographical concerns may come into play. Additionally, you’ll need licensing for the specific state within which you plan to practice—requirements are unique to each state’s higher education and nursing governance boards. As you explore program options, make sure you research state-specific information.

Potential Salary and Jobs

As of 2020, the median salary for nurse practitioners was $117,670, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Specific salary adjustments are contingent upon the state and the clinical environment you decide to practice in. For instance, according to 2020 BLS data, nurse practitioners in New York earned a mean annual wage of $126,440, while those in Tennessee earned a mean annual wage of $99,370. Here are a few common settings that NNPs may practice in—each of which may affect salary:

• Offices of Physicians
• Hospitals (state, local, and private)
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Educational services (state, local, and private)
• Offices of other health practitioners

Certifications and Licenses

While the path to becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner may be different from nurse to nurse, you will have to pursue state licensure as a nurse practitioner. There is one certification for NNPs offered by the National Certification Corporation (NCC) – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified. While there are other nursing certifications you may choose to pursue, the NCC is the only organization to offer one for NNPs.

The NNP-BC certification requires the following for application:

• Active U.S. nursing or APRN licensure
• Completion of an accredited nurse practitioner program that prepares NNPs
• Pass the certification examination within eight years of graduation

Additional Nursing Programs

If you’ve already decided that becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner is right for you, it’s important to know that there may be more than one way to get there. In addition to traditional MSN programs, there are other options to consider for those who are seeking to develop advanced knowledge in the field of neonatal care, including online nursing programs. For instance, some schools and programs, including a few of those mentioned above, offer certificates or accelerated tracks for those who wish to speed up their course of study

Weighing the options provided below may help you make an informed decision regarding your career trajectory. Here is a comprehensive list of additional program options:

• RN to MSN Programs: An RN to MSN program is a bridge program for licensed RNs. The program curriculum combines BSN and MSN coursework to prepare students for roles that typically require an MSN-trained nurse.
• BSN to MSN Programs: A BSN to MSN program is for BSN holders who are interested in furthering their formal education by earning an MSN or are working toward NNP certification.
• Accelerated Programs: Accelerated nursing programs are available to students who want to complete their required coursework within a shorter period of time than a traditional degree program calls for.
• Postgraduate/Post-Master’s Certificate: This certificate is available to MSN graduates who wish to study a specialty area that may not have been included in their MSN program.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs: NNPs interested in advanced practice or leadership positions may consider enrolling in one of the many DNP programs available, in order to gain in-depth knowledge in advanced clinical nursing and other related topics.
• Ph.D. in Nursing Programs: These types of programs are for nurses or NNPs who wish to pursue university-level clinical research.

Scholarships for NNP and Nursing Students

Nonprofits as well as accredited online BSN and MSN programs may offer a variety of nursing scholarships and opportunities for financial aid. Explore a few options for supplementing the cost of your program’s tuition below:

• Scholarship from the Foundation for Neonatal Research and Education: Aspiring neonatal nurses and nurse practitioners may apply for a scholarship from the FNRE if they are pursuing a BSN, MSN, DNP, or masters’/post-master’s degree in nursing administration or management.
• March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarships: Applicants to the March of Dimes scholarship must be an RN, enrolled in a graduate program with a focus on maternal-child nursing and be a member of a professional organization for neonatal nurses of midwives.
• AACN Scholarships & Financial Aid: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers opportunities for future nurses and nurse practitioners to apply for scholarships, grants, provides resources on loan forgiveness and other forms of aid.

Becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner takes years of work, so it’s important to know what the process involves. Here are a few common questions and answers for aspiring NNPs.