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Program Description

The NNP curriculum has been developed based on standards and recommendations of several professional nursing organizations including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Essentials of Graduate Education in Nursing), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, the National Certification Corporation, and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for NNP certification through the National Certification Corporation.  The NNP program consists of three major components, consistent with the other options in the UASON MSN program:  core courses, support courses, and advanced nursing practice courses. 

See Program of Study.

NNP Program Goals

The overall goal of the MSN program at the UABSON is to prepare nurses who:

Integrate theoretical concepts and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines relevant to advanced nursing practice.

Assume leadership in managing and providing quality and innovative services to clients at a reasonable cost.

Anticipate and respond to client-driven expectations and needs related to health care.

Influence health policy to improve health care.

Influence the future direction of professional nursing.

 

Graduates of the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) option are prepared to synthesize theoretical concepts of advanced nursing practice as they provide quality health care for neonates and their families through the first two years of the infant’s life.  NNP students apply the knowledge and skills obtained in their core and support courses as they develop patient management plans.  They rely heavily on their previous clinical experiences as neonatal nurses in learning to perform comprehensive assessments, make appropriate diagnoses and formulate therapeutic management plans.

Students in the NNP program are expected to demonstrate professional and personal behaviors appropriate to the role of the advanced practice nurse.  They are expected to adhere to the Honor Code of the UASON and to the Code of Ethics of the American Nurses’ Association.

NNP students will actively participate in discussion, develop critical thinking skills and be self-directed in appraising their learning needs to prepare for courses through the use of a variety of available instructional resources.