Neonatal nursing programs are offered for registered nurses who are studying to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who are also called nurse practitioners.
These degrees are offered at both the master's and doctoral levels. Keep reading to find our list of the best colleges for neonatal nursing.
Best Colleges for Neonatal Nursing
Neonatology is a common field for advanced-level nurses. You can find these programs through many colleges and universities across the United States.
Below, we've listed our best colleges for neonatal nursing in alphabetical order. All programs listed are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
1. Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. It offers a neonatal nurse practitioner program through its School of Nursing.
This is a Master of Science in nursing program that prepares students to care for neonates, infants, toddlers, and their families.
Most students complete their program in two and a half years.
Courses in this program include:
- Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan: A Conceptual Approach
- Advanced Practice Nursing in Neonatal Patients
- Embryology, Pathophysiology, and Development of Neonates, Infants, and Toddlers
- Population Health in a Global Society
The program is distance-based, with interactive online learning and clinical practice experiences at over 2,000 clinical partner sites nationwide.
While the university doesn't offer a neonatal specialty for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to DNP program only takes an additional two years for those who want to earn their doctorate.
2. University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a public, health sciences-focused research university with campuses throughout San Francisco.
It offers neonatal nursing programs for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists through its School of Nursing.
Both programs lead to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The programs take 12 semesters to complete, with the first few semesters based in coursework.
Core courses include:
- Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy Across Diverse Populations
- Concepts and Contemporary Issues for Advanced Practice
- Improving Health Outcomes by Advancing QI and Safety Initiatives
- Principles of Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Evidence-Based Practice
Students will spend the remainder of their time in clinical practice at sites like UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Stanford Health Care, and Kaiser Permanente.
3. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. It offers a Master of Science in neonatal nursing program through its College of Nursing.
This program is designed to develop neonatal nurse practitioners who provide acute and chronic care to patients from birth through two years old.
This program takes two years to complete and includes courses like:
- Advanced Newborn/Infant Health Assessment
- Developmental Physiology of Fetus & Newborn
- Neonatal Pathophysiology and Advanced Nursing Management
- Primary Care of the Well and At-Risk Newborn
This program is open to residents in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It offers core courses online, as well as an intensive component that is offered virtually.
A neonatal certificate program is also available for MSN students who want to add an additional specialty to their nurse practitioner degree.
4. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Its School of Nursing offers a neonatal nurse practitioner program.
This is an MSN program that takes as little as three semesters of full-time study, though part-time study options are available.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Advanced Clinical Reasoning for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Advanced Neonatal Assessment Application
- Advanced Neonatal Pharmacotherapeutics
- Introduction to Advanced Procedures for Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
This program is taught in a modified distance learning format that includes online courses and concentrated on-campus blocks.
5. Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It offers neonatal nurse practitioner programs through its College of Nursing.
The MSN with the neonatal nurse practitioner clinical specialty requires 27 credits.
It includes courses like:
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across Lifespan
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Theoretical & Methodological Issues
- Health Economics, Policy, and Professional Issues for APNs
- Neonatal Pharmacology for the APN
A Doctor of Nursing Practice with a neonatal nurse practitioner clinical specialty is also available. It includes many of the same courses in the MSN curriculum.
The DNP program requires a total of 78 credits, or 43 for those who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
Both the MSN and DNP programs focus on health promotion, prevention of disease and disability, evidence-based clinical management of disease processes, and family-integrated care.
FAQs About Colleges for Neonatal Nursing
Below, you'll find the answers to frequently asked questions about neonatal nursing programs.
How Long Are Neonatal Nursing Programs?
The length of a neonatal nursing program can vary depending on what level of degree you're earning, but they generally take between two and four years to complete.
What Do I Need to Do to Become a Neonatal Nurse?
To work as a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), you'll need at least a master's degree in nursing. You'll also need to obtain a state license, which usually requires passing a certification exam.
Can I Earn a Degree in Neonatal Nursing Online?
Some programs, including a few listed above, allow you to do the bulk of your coursework online. However, you will still have to appear in person for clinical experiences.
Find the Best Colleges for Neonatal Nursing
Several colleges and universities across the United States offer neonatal nursing programs. Check out the ones listed above to find the right program for you today.
