title: The role of the neonatal nurse practitioner in the community hospital level I nursery.
abstract: Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) have played a significant role in providing medical coverage to many of the country's Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Extensive education and experience are required for a nurse practitioner (NP) to become competent in caring for these critically ill newborns. The NNP can take this competence and experience and expand her role out into the community Level I nurseries. Clinical care of the infants and close communication with parents, pediatricians, and the area tertiary center provide a community service with the goal of keeping parents and babies together in the community hospital without compromising the health of the baby. The NNP service, with 24-hour nursery and delivery coverage, supports an ongoing obstetric service to the community hospital. The NNP's experience enables her to provide a neonatal service that encompasses a multitude of advanced practice nursing roles.
authors.affiliation: Level I nursery at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, MA, USA. juliehatch@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatch
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States