Master of Science in Nursing
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Why study to be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at the University of Florida ?
A neonatal nurse practitioner has clinical expertise in neonatal nursing with supervised clinical experience in the management of newborns and their families. The neonatal nurse practitioner manages a caseload of neonatal patients with consultation, collaboration, and medical supervision by a physician. Using the acquired knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physiology, the neonatal nurse practitioner may exercise independent judgment in the assessment and diagnosis of infants and in the performance of certain delegated procedures. He/she may also be involved in education, consultation, and research.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track students learn to carry out independent management of patients and their families ; develop the expertise necessary to care for high-risk neonates and their families; and become proficient at delivery room management of high-risk neonates
Certified neonatal nurse practitioners practice as nurse practitioners in a variety of settings including Level I nurseries and newborn facilities, Level II and III neonatal intensive care nurseries, private practice and follow-up clinics.
The UF College of Nursing is the only state nursing school to offer a neonatal nurse practitioner program. With top-notch faculty and cutting edge facilities and resources available from area hospitals and interdisciplinary colleges, the neonatal nurse practitioner student at UF will be expertly prepared to give quality patient care to neonates and their families.
We offer a specialized program of study for certificate-prepared neonatal nurse practitioners.
MSN students at UF have excellent opportunities to explore nursing research and science, be professionally involved with student and professional governance, and have access to clinical experiences with patients across the cultural span.
Program Description
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner clinical track prepares nurses for careers in both intensive care and normal newborn nurseries. The program emphasizes the care of the premature neonate; the infant with surgical and cardiac related diagnosis as well as those with congenital anomalies. Students have clinical experiences in tertiary and step-down care units, newborn nurseries, as well as the delivery room. Because of the nature of neonatal nursing care, neonatal nursing clinical experiences may be flexible and can occur on day, evening, night and weekends.
The Neonatal NP track is entirely Internet-based for students in the state of Florida.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner graduates are eligible for national certification through the National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties.
This program is available for post-master's study.
Sample full-time and part-time curriculum plans
Application deadline for all MSN clinical tracks is March 15. (See below for more details)*
*Note: The March 15 deadline for the MSN program indicate the earliest date when the College will begin accepting students. After March 15, applications to the MSN program will be accepted until May 31st and students will be accepted on a space available basis.
Neonatal nurse practitioner track applicants should refer to the Master of Science in Nursing page for admission criteria and application information.
Contact information:
All general MSN program inquiries should be directed to
Cecile Kiley
Coordinator, Academic Support Services
UF College of Nursing
PO Box 100197
Gainesville, FL 32610-0197
(352) 273-6331
For specific information regarding this clinical track, contact:
Professor Leslie Parker
Clinical Coordinator
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Track
parkela@ufl.edu
(352) 273-6384