A survey of the current neonatal nurse practitioner workforce

To assess the adequacy and characteristics of the US neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) workforce.

Internet-based survey of 271 NNP conference participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 14; Chicago, IL, USA); descriptive statistics, including chi(2)-tests of independence, were performed (alpha=0.05).

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. One-third 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.

This study provides the first data about NNP education and workforce characteristics in the United States. The use of an internet-based 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.