A survey of the current neonatal nurse practitioner workforce

Abstract

Objective: To assess the adequacy and characteristics of the US neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) workforce.Study Design: Internet-based survey of 271 NNP conference participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 14; Chicago, IL, USA); descriptive statistics, including w 2 -tests of independence, were performed (a ¼ 0.05).Result: Respondents were primarily masters-prepared females, working in level III newborn intensive care units. Unfilled NNP positions were common; time estimated to fill positions averaged 6-18 months. Onethird of the respondents' practice settings had substituted other providers. The mean NNP salary was $86 700. Motivators for becoming an NNP included autonomy and increased knowledge; challenges identified were overload of responsibilities and the NNP shortage. Conclusion:This study provides the first data about NNP education and workforce characteristics in the United States. The use of an internetbased data collection process facilitated the rapid response of a large sample of NNPs and demonstrated the effectiveness of this method of data collection. The results of this survey suggest a mismatch between the need for NNPs the available NNP workforce supply.

Literature review of the impact of nurse practitioners in critical care services

“…Internationally, there was greater evidence of practice scope, activities and patient safety outcomes in this field. However, the evidence comprised largely of descriptive, comparative or before‐and‐after‐studies with minimal evidence of clinical or economic impact (Hall and Wilkinson, 2005, Cusson et al , 2008). For the most part the comparative studies compared junior medical officers with Nurse Practitioner knowledge, skills and interpersonal communication.…”

Educating Neonatal Nurse Practitioners in the 21st Century

“…The number of graduates has remained relatively static during the past 4 years (average 260); but, the number of students enrolled has declined in each of the past 4 years from 603 in 2005 to 516 in 2008. 9 One study reported that 63% (123 of 191) of the registered nurses surveyed were not interested in becoming a NNP. The responses indicated 6 categories of reasons, which included the following: (1) obligations to family, (2) too much responsibility in the NNP role, (3) satisfaction in current role, (4) unwilling to work the NNP hours, (5) inadequate pay for NNP role, and (6) cost of education.…”

Master’s programs in advanced nursing practice: new strategies to enhance course design for subspecialty training in neonatology and pediatrics

“…In the neonatal intensive care setting, the problem is particularly acute because of the very short supply of ANNPs. The high cost of ANNP education is reducing the number of available NNP programs, and those remaining are not graduating a sufficient number of new ANNPs to keep up with demand 19. Given ANNP shortages, even at the master’s level, the DNP is likely to lead to further ANNP program closures because of faculty shortages 20.…”