2 Best Accelerated Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs For Non-Nurses (Online & Campus-Based)
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Do you love infants? As a neonatal nurse practitioner, you’ll be turning that love into hands-on care as you help treat newborns with a wide variety of medical issues. You don’t have to be a nurse already to enroll in an accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner program; accelerated NNP pathways build on the non-nursing bachelor’s degree you already have to prepare you to take the RN licensing exam as well as the NP certification exam. Neonatal nurse practitioners earn top salaries and are offered many employment opportunities. If you’ve been wondering what are the best accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner programs for non-nurses, the guide below to the 2 best accelerated (campus-based and online) neonatal nurse practitioner programs for non-nurses is a must-read.
WHAT ARE THE BEST ACCELERATED (CAMPUS-BASED AND ONLINE) NEONATAL NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS FOR NON-NURSES IN THE NATION?
(Based on our
Ranking Methodology, the following are the 2 best accelerated Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programs for non-nurses. The following list includes both (Campus-Based and Online) programs. These programs are for students with a degree in a non-nursing field.)
Specialty Offered: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Program Length: 3 Years
Program Details: If your love for the tiniest humans is pushing you towards a second career in neonatal care, then Ohio State University offers a terrific pathway. By offering one of the best accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner programs for non-nurses Ohio State’s direct-entry MSN program quickly makes non-nurses into highly skilled practitioners who are prepared to provide delicate care for neonatal patients. The MSN-NNP program builds on your non-nursing bachelor's degree to first prepare you for the RN licensure exam. Precisely, the program comprises three main components, the pre-licensure curriculum, the MSN core, and the NNP-specific courses. The program is only offered as a full-time option and there is no part-time option available.
The pre-licensure coursework is mainly offered on-campus, after completing which you’ll be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The pre-licensure courses teach you about concepts in community health nursing, nursing care of the individual and family, psychiatric mental health nursing, health assessment, cultural competence, and quality & safety initiatives in clinical practice. Post-completion of the pre-licensure courses, you’ll take the NCLEX-RN exam and work as a registered nurse.
Thereafter, you continue to complete the MSN core and NNP-related courses, mostly taking classes in the online format. The MSN core courses prepare you for innovative leadership, quality improvement & informatics, health promotion, theory & population health, nursing policy, evidence-based nursing, pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology. In addition, the NNP-related courses prepare you for advanced nursing care of high-risk neonatal patients. The NNP program also includes clinical training through simulations, skill-building activities, and real-world clinical experiences at sites throughout the nation. Upon graduation, you’ll obtain an MSN and be prepared to take the NNP certification exam.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Because Ohio University’s accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner program for non-nurses is a full-time, fast-paced coursework, it can be completed within just three years.
Admission Requirements: If you are seeking to become an NNP, then to qualify for Ohio State University’s admission process, you must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. Further, the program requires the completion of relevant prerequisite courses such as human anatomy, human physiology, human nutrition, microbiology, and pharmacology. The admission process also requires the submission of documents such as college transcripts, a resume, a goals statement, and three letters of recommendation.
Why Choose This Program
• The Ohio State University’s masters in nursing education consistently ranks among the top graduate nursing programs in the nation as per the U.S. News & World Report.
• Ohio State University’s accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner program for non-nurses is aligned with the guidelines set by the National Associate of Neonatal Nurses and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
• Ohio State University’s NNP faculty designs the curriculum after collaborating with the university's Medical Center and several other NICUs across the nation. Therefore, graduates are equipped with employable skills and knowledge to meet the specific needs of neonatal intensive care.
• Ohio State University’s NNP program is grounded in interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based knowledge. The program also stands out for integrating personal wellness into the curriculum.
Specialty Offered: Pediatric Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Program Length: 3 Years
Program Details: For non-nursing professionals who are keen on becoming care providers for newborns, infants, and children, the University of Rochester offers an excellent option. Here, the accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner program for non-nurses quickly prepares you for the advanced care of neonates and infants.
The accelerated MSN-NP program first starts with 12 months of ABSN courses after which you obtain your BSN and sit for the NCLEX exam. On passing the NCLEX-RN exam, you become a registered nurse. You can now explore employment options and gain sufficient experience in a NICU before moving into the MSN-NP section of the program.
The ABSN portion of the program comprises 49 credits and 720 hours of clinical practice. This portion, also called the pre-licensure coursework, prepares you for the nursing field by teaching you topics such as nursing health assessment, pathophysiology, population & community health nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, and med-surgical nursing
After gaining experience as a registered nurse, you enter the MSN-NP section of the program. The MSN-NP section comprises MSN core courses and courses in the pediatric and neonatal NP specialties. The MSN-NP courses consist of 54 to 58 credits and include 976 to 1216 hours of clinical practice. The core courses cover topics such as ethics & public policy, research & evidence-based practice, advanced physiology & pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology. The NP-related courses include training in the advanced care of pediatric and neonatal patients. You also learn about advanced health assessment, pediatric psychopharmacology, pediatric primary care, and nursing care of high-risk neonatal patients.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: University of Rochester’s accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner program for non-nurses can be completed within just three years of full-time study.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for the University of Rochester’s accelerated MSN-NP program, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Also, your GPA must be at least 2.8. To qualify for the MSN-NP portion of the program, you must have an active and unencumbered RN license in New York State. The program also requires applicants to have at least two years of NICU experience. Additionally, a course in statistics with a minimum grade of C is also required. To complete the application requirements, submission of official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a current resume is required.
Why Choose This Program
• University of Rochester’s pediatric neonatal nurse practitioner students practice skills at one of the specialized healthcare centers, the Gosnell Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The center is recognized nationally for the highest level of clinical care for neonatal and pediatric patients.
• Among the two best accelerated neonatal nurse practitioner programs for non-nurses, the University of Rochester’s MSN-NP program stands out for preparing graduates for certification in both, neonatal as well pediatric nurse practitioner specialties.
• University of Rochester’s nurse practitioner programs consistently earn acclaim for the excellent quality education they offer. Little surprise that the U.S. News & World Report ranks its NP programs among the best in the nation.
• The University of Rochester has more than 50 years of experience in training highly skilled nurse practitioners who are desired by employers in the state and throughout the nation.
VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS EXPECT TO EARN?
Hourly | $47.23 |
Weekly | $1,889 |
Monthly | $8,190 |
Annual | $98,240 |
(Source: Nursingprocess.org) |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR EXPERIENCED GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS?
Hourly | $47.23 |
Weekly | $1,889 |
Monthly | $8,190 |
Annual | $98,240 |
(Source: Nursingprocess.org) |
10-YEAR JOB OUTLOOK FOR GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS
2022-32 |
+44.54% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |