Addressing NNP Shortages in a Level IV NICU: A Solution in Your Own Backyard

Abstract

NICUs have evolved in the last 20 years. Patients are being rescued at earlier gestation, and with this comes potential sequelae and complex issues throughout the hospitalization. As a result, there is an increased need for experienced, well-rounded neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) to care for these patients. Staff ratios are slow to catch up to the needs of the patients; NNPs are often caring for 15–30 patients at a time. This can leave the provider with a sense of not providing good enough care, burnout, and disillusionment with the reasons they entered school to become an NNP. This article provides a unique alternative to improve staffing ratios of students who are already familiar with not only the NICU, but your NICU: Relationships have been established and engagement of the unit is already present in the candidates.