Neonatal nurse practitioners. Who are they?

A neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) serves as the primary-care provider for in-hospital neonates. These practitioners receive different education and formal training than other nurse practitioners. The NNP's responsibilities may include managing patient care in an intensive-care unit, conducting normal newborn assessments and physical examinations, and providing high-risk follow-up visits. Career stressors, job satisfaction, and salaries vary among NNPs. The authors describe the variation in education and roles in this expanded nursing practice.