Role of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in the Community Hospital

The role of the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) is well established in the neonatal intensive care unit. The level IV NNP is traditionally supported by large multidisciplinary teams while the level I to III NNP may be the sole in-house provider with limited resources.

The purpose of this research project is to identify the NNP role, responsibilities, and barriers to practice in the level I, II, and III newborn care settings.

This study used a descriptive, exploratory design to examine NNP roles and responsibilities in level I, II, and III care centers via an online survey.

Of the respondents (171), the majority (71.3%) work 24-hour shifts, 51.5% being the single NNP during the day with 67.8% being alone at night. Nearly 27% have limited or are without ancillary support while 29.8% cannot meet some standards of care due to inadequate resources. Almost 22% lack written protocols and procedural opportunities are limited or a concern for 15.8% of the NNPs.

A better understanding of the responsibilities of the level I to III NNP will assist with developing staffing guidelines, influence practice models, and guide recruitment and retention of the NNP.

A systematic literature review yielded articles on the value of nurse practitioners and their ability to deliver safe, effective and cost-conscience care but not on what the role entails on a daily basis. Further studies are needed to specifically compare the role of the level IV NNP to the level I, II, and III NNP to further delineate NNP functionality according to level of care.