Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
The focus of the NNP program is health management of the ill neonate and family, but students will also gain knowledge regarding nursing theory, research, cultural diversity, health policy, ethics, and leadership related to the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse. In this innovative program, the five didactic neonatal courses are offered through Blackboard, a web course platform accessible to students from their homes.Students can complete the 43-credit-hour NNP program from their home and obtain the clinical experiences in their local Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a preceptor that they select upon approval by NNP faculty (View the Preceptorship Guidelines). Graduates of this accredited program are qualified to sit for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Board Exam offered by the National Certification Corporation.
Distance Learning
The NNP program was developed with the support of a three-year grant from the U.S. Public Health Service, Division of Nursing awarded in 1998. The program's first student graduation was in 2000. The program is now housed at the UMKC School of Nursing and is offered fully online. Through approved arrangements, students in the Masters of Nursing programs at South Dakota State University (SDSU), University of Iowa and the University of Missouri-Saint Louis (UMSL) can also enroll in the NNP courses through UMKC.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to the Master's Program admission requirements, the requirements for admission into the NNP track of the Master's Program are:
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification
- The equivalent of 1 year of full-time, recent (within the last 5 years) practice experience as a registered nurse (RN) in the care of critically ill newborns, infants, or children in acute care (intensive care) inpatient settings is required before a student begins the clinical courses. Students may enroll in preclinical courses while obtaining the necessary practice experience. Required practice experience in the NICU is limited to Level III settings.
- A letter of reference from the neonatal medical or NNP director that addresses the applicant’s potential as a NNP and their ability and willingness to provide clinical experiences and supervision as preceptor for the applicant
- Must reside in the United States
- Complete the NNP Reference Form