Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP

Rush's approach: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program

You’ll learn from faculty who are active practitioners at top-tier medical centers around the country, including Rush University Medical Center.

This means many program advisers and clinical faculty are practicing nurse practitioners who have clinical experience that will enrich your learning.

We offer tracks for both bachelor’s and master’s-prepared nurses.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program length and location

Our online Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program takes two and a half (full-time) to three and a half (part-time) years to complete.

Coursework primarily takes place online with the exceptions of NSG 548, which requires a three-day campus visit, and NSG 609C, which requires a campus visit for final defense presentations.

Clinical experience

You need at least two years of full-time level III or level IV neonatal experience before starting the clinical portion of the NNP DNP program.

For local students, clinical practicum sites may be available at Rush University Medical Center and other clinical partners in the Chicago area. But we cannot guarantee clinical practicum placement.

As a distance student, you are responsible for contacting local preceptors and connecting the Rush clinical placement team with those preceptors.

We have been successful in negotiating most distance clinical practicum contracts, but success is not guaranteed.

Rush may also need to be a recognized provider by the board of nursing in your state. For these reasons, we encourage you to plan your clinical practicum with the program coordinator early.

Certification

We prepare you to be eligible for board certification as a neonatal nurse practitioner by the National Certification Corporation.

Our graduates have an exceptional first-time pass rate on the exam.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program tuition

t Rush University, we know your education is a big investment. We want to make sure you have all the information you need to make the best financial decisions for you and your family.

Learn about student financial aid options.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP career opportunities

Graduates are prepared to practice in normal newborn, intermediate and intensive care settings.

Your knowledge of pathophysiology, assessment, pharmacology and physiology-based management will help you do the following:

• Attend high-risk deliveries
• Consult and collaborate with interprofessional team members
• Evaluate diagnostic and clinical data
• Manage critically ill and intermediate care neonates
• Perform advanced physical assessments
• Support and educate caregivers

Additionally, your responsibilities will include the following advanced practice clinical procedural skills:

• Delivery room resuscitation
• Intubation and non-invasive respiratory management
• Lumbar puncture
• Pleural needle aspiration
• Umbilical line placement and suturing
• X-ray interpretation

Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 40% from 2021-31. This is much faster than the average for other professions.