Notes on NNP’ing

| 17babynp
Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com

Welcome! This is a place for NICU RNs, RT, Therapists, NNP’s and Resident MDs to learn, maybe laugh, learn a bit more and even receive some sense of gratitude for your hard work in caring for those tiny but mighty humans.

I will try my absolute best to post regularly on the plethora of topics in the NICU. I assure you that the work is based off peer reviewed journals and textbooks commonly used in this field of healthcare. I always ask that my readers respect the material posted and that any comments regarding the material or other reader’s comments remain professional, and kind. Everywhere we look negativity lives, but if we look twice you will find love, kindness and gratitude… these are some of the secrets to health, success and will get anyone thru the their storm. With that said any form of negativity will be removed from the site. This is my journey to becoming a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner…. not just a title (which I already hold) but the kind of NNP that only comes with commitment, time and passion for this work.

You are your own person with your own license to practice within the realm of your specialty. Just as I assume responsibility and accountability for my own actions and decisions; by visiting my site, reading and learning what you can from it, you agree that YOU take full responsibility and accountability in your own actions and decisions. In NO way shape or form can I or will I be held accountable for anything you take from this space as you apply to your professional practice. Critical thinking is your best friend and information you take from this space is solely intended to broaden your critical thinking skills and enhance your NICU knowledge. Enjoy this space and use this information at your own risk. -Adela-

1st Eyes in the NNP World

| 17babynp

This thread is to journalize the life of an NNP. As we all know to be an NNP one must have been a Neonatal RN in a Level 3-4 NICU for at least 2 years prior to starting clinicals. As for my self, I had the pleasure of 10 wonderful years to learn how to be my best from average sized level 4 NICU in a Catholic institution. I must say having worked at 2 other institutions prior to becoming a Registered Nurse this place really lived up to it’s mission. Passing Nuns in the hallways was really inspiring for me.

fast forward about 2 years……

Ok, so life happened….

Well hello again! Yes, the first post (above) was actually written about 2 years ago when I was a brand new NNP. I had all these hopes and dreams about my new NNP career and my new online venture to save the world by helping great people like y’all who visit my site. Haha well fast forward 2’ish years and now I am finally taking the leap to publish and go live (even if I’m not ready). What happened in the last two years!?! I was consumed with the life of being a wife, mom, and new NNP in a very busy NICU working way more hours / week then ever had in my entire nursing career. Yeah I’ve put in overtime many times before but not on a weekly basis. Something that one who aspires to become an NNP should know before starting their program is that as a full time NNP… gone are the easy days of “Full Time” equalling 36 hours / week! Most places require an average of 45-55 hours / week. Thats a good 8-18 hours more then you may be used to working. I did say average so, some weeks are great at 32 hours while the next week might be 60 hours… and these 60 hours can be emotionally, mentally as well as physically exhausting. This kind of workload can really change one’s life and have negative effects on your health, mood and even your family relationships. I am happy to say that if you were able to graduate from NNP school without getting a divorce then you’ll likely survive the first couple years of this kind of work.

Long story short… I put in two years of full time employment to ensure I have gained an adequate amount of exposure as a new NNP then I decreased my hours to 75% time which is really more like it was when I was a bedside RN. Life is now manageable without loosing what matters. I get a great deal of hours that help me to continue to grow into the kind of NNP I hope to be all while having more time to enjoy life and still help save the world via this site!