Perceptions of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Role Among NICU Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to examine Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses’ perceptions of the NNP role and barriers to entering the role. Background: A shortage of neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) exists. Hiring NNPs from outside the current NICU staff has resulted in turnover and additional cost. If current nursing staff prepared as NNPs, the organization would benefit; yet few nurses have done so. Reasons that dissuade nurses from pursuing the NNP role have not been adequately examined. Knowing how nurses perceive the NNP role may help to decrease barriers and inform plans to address the problem