Neonatal nurse practitioners: identity as advanced practice nurses

Area of Science:

• Advanced Practice Nursing
• Neonatal Nursing
• Professional Identity

Background:

• The identity of advanced practice nurses, particularly neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs), is complex.
• Understanding how NNPs perceive their professional identity is crucial for role development and practice.
• Factors influencing the socialization and identity formation of NNPs require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) perceive their professional identity as advanced practice nurses.
• To identify factors that shape the identity of NNPs within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Main Methods:

• A non-experimental descriptive and correlational survey design was employed.
• A nationwide random sample of 258 certified NNPs practicing in US NICUs participated.
• Participants used visual analogue and Likert scales to report their practice philosophy and the influence of role socialization factors on their identity.

Main Results:

• Most NNPs were certificate-prepared and leaned towards a medical philosophy of practice.
• Master's-prepared NNPs, those precepted by NNPs, members of professional nursing organizations, and those with NNP role models were more likely to identify with a nursing philosophy.
• Specific factors like advanced education and mentorship significantly correlated with a stronger nursing identity (p < .01).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the need for further research into role differentiation, socialization, and identity among advanced practice nurses in tertiary care.
• Findings support the American Nurses' Association's recommendation for graduate nursing education for advanced nurse practitioners.
• Educational preparation and professional socialization experiences appear to influence NNP identity.