Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs

Duke University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program offers a dynamic hybrid MSN pathway targeting advanced nursing professionals seeking specialized newborn care expertise. The strategically designed curriculum equips students with comprehensive skills to manage intricate neonatal health challenges across diverse clinical environments like NICUs and developmental clinics. Distinguished by its 100% board exam pass rate and robust employment outlook, the program mandates two years of prior NICU nursing experience. Students benefit from expert faculty mentorship, innovative learning technologies, and an extensive global clinical placement network. With projected field growth of 38% by 2032, graduates are positioned at the forefront of pediatric healthcare innovation, prepared to deliver sophisticated, compassionate neonatal care.

• Distance-based hybrid learning
• Extensive global clinical network
• #5 Master's Nursing Program
• 100% board exam pass rate
• Requires 2 years NICU experience
• Advanced neonatal care curriculum
• Expert faculty mentorship
• High employment potential

Case Western Reserve University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner MSN offers an intensive pathway for experienced NICU nurses seeking advanced clinical expertise. The hybrid program demands a robust two-year NICU nursing background, ensuring students enter with foundational knowledge. Spanning 18 months and comprising 40 credit hours, students complete 700 clinical hours in Level III NICUs, developing sophisticated skills in critically ill and premature infant care. The program emphasizes hands-on training, preparing graduates to deliver complex neonatal interventions with precision and compassion. Military-friendly status and a rigorous 3.0 GPA requirement underscore the program's commitment to academic and professional excellence.

• 40 credit hours total
• 700 clinical hours required
• 18-month full-time program
• Two years NICU experience prerequisite
• Focus on neonatal intensive care

Vanderbilt University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty offers an intensive hybrid program targeting experienced RNs with Level III-IV NICU backgrounds. Spanning four full-time semesters, the curriculum delivers comprehensive training in high-risk newborn management through 770 clinical practice hours. Students develop advanced skills in collaborative care, neonatal resuscitation, and complex medical interventions. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice and features small collaborative classes with faculty-supervised training. Designed for practitioners seeking expert-level preparation, the program includes robust certification exam preparation and leverages a rigorous academic approach to neonatal critical care education.

• 4 Full-time Semesters
• Hybrid Learning Format
• 770 Clinical Practice Hours
• Requires 2+ Years NICU Experience
• Small Collaborative Classes
• High Employment Rate
• Faculty-Supervised Training
• Certification Exam Preparation

Stony Brook University's Doctoral Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program offers an intensive training pathway for advanced nursing professionals seeking specialized newborn care expertise. Students engage in comprehensive coursework emphasizing evidence-based practice, cutting-edge healthcare technology integration, and leadership skill development. The program uniquely prepares graduates to analyze complex healthcare data, collaborate interprofessionally, and deliver high-quality neonatal interventions. With a strong focus on advanced clinical skills, students learn to utilize sophisticated medical technologies and implement research-driven care strategies. Clinical practicum experiences provide hands-on training in complex neonatal care settings, ensuring graduates are equipped to provide exceptional support to vulnerable newborn populations and their families.

• Doctoral-level Neonatal Nursing
• Advanced Healthcare Technology Focus
• Leadership Skills Development
• Evidence-Based Practice Training
• High Earning Potential
• Interprofessional Collaboration Emphasis

Rochester's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program delivers an advanced master's curriculum meticulously designed for nurses seeking specialized infant healthcare expertise. With immersive clinical training at the prestigious Golisano Children's Hospital, students master complex neonatal care across diverse clinical environments. The program strategically prepares graduates for national certifications, emphasizing advanced intervention techniques for low and high-risk newborn populations. Unique program features include Level IV NICU experiential learning, comprehensive infant care curriculum, and dual pediatric-neonatal specialty tracks. Students benefit from an online format that accommodates working professionals while maintaining rigorous academic standards and hands-on clinical preparation.

• Dual specialty pediatric/neonatal focus
• Level IV NICU clinical experiences
• National certification preparation
• Advanced clinical training
• Comprehensive infant care curriculum

The University of Connecticut's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program offers a robust educational pathway for experienced NICU nurses seeking advanced specialization. Targeting RNs with minimum two years of level three NICU experience, the program delivers comprehensive training through flexible online learning complemented by two immersive on-campus simulation visits. Prospective students can select from multiple academic tracks, including a 44-credit Master's degree, 76-82 credit BS to DNP pathway, or a concise 29-credit Post-Graduate Certificate. The curriculum emphasizes national certification preparation, advanced clinical skills, and specialized neonatal healthcare expertise, ensuring graduates are equipped to provide critical care for the most vulnerable patient population.

• Online with two campus visits
• Fully accredited nursing program
• Multiple degree options available
• Requires 2+ years NICU experience
• Part-time and full-time tracks
• National certification preparation
• Experienced faculty practitioners

The University of Pennsylvania's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner MSN program stands out as a premier educational pathway for advanced practice nurses seeking specialized infant healthcare expertise. Designed to cultivate comprehensive neonatal care skills, this program prepares students to excel in complex clinical environments like intensive care nurseries. Students benefit from small cohort sizes, ensuring personalized learning experiences and targeted mentorship. The curriculum strategically integrates research methodologies, advanced pathophysiology, and hands-on clinical training within Penn's prestigious healthcare networks. Graduates emerge as innovative neonatal care leaders, equipped with extensive knowledge and practical skills to provide critical interventions for newborns and infants up to two years old. National certification preparation and world-renowned faculty further distinguish this transformative academic journey.

• Top 5 nursing graduate school
• Full-time and part-time options
• 2-3 year program length
• Total cost around $90-96k
• BSN with 3.0 GPA required
• Minimum 2 years NICU experience
• Clinical placements in Penn network
• National certification preparation
• World-renowned faculty experts
• Located near Penn Medicine/CHOP

Northeastern University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program stands out as a cutting-edge online master's degree tailored for experienced NICU nurses seeking advanced specialization. Spanning 41 total credits, the program uniquely emphasizes critical care skills for high-risk infant management through comprehensive clinical training. Designed for registered nurses with minimum two years of NICU experience, students engage in local clinical practicums that provide hands-on expertise in complex medical scenarios. The flexible online format allows professionals to advance their careers without interrupting current employment. With no GRE requirement and multiple clinical preceptorship opportunities, nurses can develop sophisticated diagnostic reasoning and independent patient management capabilities in neonatal intensive care settings.

• 100% Online Program
• Clinical Practicum in Local NICUs
• Minimum 3.0 GPA Required
• Two Years NICU Experience Needed
• Multiple Clinical Preceptors
• 41 Total Credits Required
• No GRE Scores Needed
• Full-time or Part-time Options

Ohio State University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program stands out as a cutting-edge hybrid educational pathway designed for experienced NICU professionals. Students benefit from a flexible learning model combining online coursework with strategic on-campus seminars, enabling comprehensive neonatal healthcare education. The program uniquely mandates 24 months of prior NICU experience, ensuring participants possess foundational clinical expertise before advanced training. Graduates develop sophisticated skills in evidence-based practice, preparing them for leadership roles across diverse neonatal care environments. U.S. News & World Report's #2 online master's program ranking underscores the curriculum's exceptional quality and innovative approach to neonatal nursing education.

• Distance-enhanced learning format
• Requires 24 months NICU experience
• Evidence-based practice curriculum
• Multiple degree pathway options
• Clinicals near student's community
• World-class neonatal faculty

Wayne State University's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) MSN program offers an intensive two-year curriculum designed to equip advanced practice nurses with sophisticated skills in high-risk neonatal care. Distinctively requiring two years of Level III NICU experience, the program ensures students possess substantial clinical background before advanced coursework. Students explore comprehensive neonatal health strategies, emphasizing disease prevention, clinical management, and holistic family-centered approaches. The 47-credit program prepares graduates to deliver expert care in complex neonatal settings, with curriculum tailored to urban and global healthcare environments. Graduates become eligible for the National Certification Corporation (NCC) examination, positioning them for specialized neonatal healthcare careers with advanced clinical competencies.

• 47 total program credits
• Two years NICU experience required
• NCC certification eligible
• Advanced neonatal clinical training
• Health promotion focused curriculum