Advanced Practice Nursing in Neonatology: Clinical Report

Abstract

The participation of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in neonatal care continues to be supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Traditionally, neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatal clinical nurse specialists were the two roles well established within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With ongoing shortages of these roles, some institutions have turned toward pediatric nurse practitioners (acute and primary care) and family nurse practitioners to meet patient care needs. This clinical report aims to review the roles, scope of practice, collaboration, and credentialling of these categories of APRNs with recommendations for the safe and effective utilization of these providers in neonatal care. This clinical report will not address other roles in the NICU, including hospitalists or physician assistants in the NICU, nor speak to the potential shortages and solutions these professions are experiencing, as those topics are well covered in the Standards for Levels of Neonatal Care: II, III, IV and Neonatal Provider Workforce Technical Report.