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A survey of the current neonatal nurse practitioner workforce

Journal of Perinatology volume 28, pages 830–836 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the adequacy and characteristics of the US neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) workforce.

Study Design:

Internet-based survey of 271 NNP conference participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 14; Chicago, IL, USA); descriptive statistics, including χ2-tests of independence, were performed (α=0.05).

Result:

Respondents were primarily masters-prepared females, working in level III newborn intensive care units. Unfilled NNP positions were common; time estimated to fill positions averaged 6–18 months. One-third of the respondents' practice settings had substituted other providers. The mean NNP salary was $86 700. Motivators for becoming an NNP included autonomy and increased knowledge; challenges identified were overload of responsibilities and the NNP shortage.

Conclusion:

This study provides the first data about NNP education and workforce characteristics in the United States. The use of an internet-based data collection process facilitated the rapid response of a large sample of NNPs and demonstrated the effectiveness of this method of data collection. The results of this survey suggest a mismatch between the need for NNPs the available NNP workforce supply.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Karen Lee for her diligence in helping to identify APN Forum participant emails. We are grateful for the assistance of Tim Mattis of ENSEARCH Management Consultants for conducting the annual NNP educational program survey. We also acknowledge the thoughtful contribution of Dartmouth biostatistician Richard Barton to this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    R M Cusson

  2. Intensive Care Nursery, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA

    M E Buus-Frank & V A Flanagan

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA

    M E Buus-Frank, V A Flanagan & S Miller

  4. Intensive Care Nursery, Dupont Children's Hospital and School of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    K Zukowsky

  5. School of Nursing, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

    L Rasmussen

Authors
  1. R M Cusson
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  2. M E Buus-Frank
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  3. V A Flanagan
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  4. S Miller
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  5. K Zukowsky
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  6. L Rasmussen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R M Cusson.

Additional information

Statistical consultant: Academic Computing at Dartmouth College: Richard Barton.

Conflicts of interest/Disclaimer

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Cusson, R., Buus-Frank, M., Flanagan, V. et al. A survey of the current neonatal nurse practitioner workforce. J Perinatol 28, 830–836 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.106

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