Lead Faculty, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
Sarah Gutin Barsman PhD, MSN, NNP-BC, MBE, MN, RN
Office of Admissions
216.368.5981
admissionsfpb@case.edu
Providing Urgent, Specialized Care for Premature Infants
Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) are advanced practice nurses who focus on the management and care of critically ill infants and their families. The scope of their practice covers birth through two years of age. Their role encompasses activities that detect illness, facilitate restoration and maintenance of the health of neonates as well as advocacy for quality patient and family care.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one in every eight infants born in the United States each year is premature. The survival of our tiniest patients relies on not just advanced technology, but also the knowledge of their health care providers: neonatal nurse practitioners.
The majority of the required prerequisites of the didactic portion of this program is in intensive format or online. Students are eligible to take the NNP certification examination through the National Certification Corporation upon graduation. Graduates have the knowledge and skills to assess, plan, intervene appropriately and evaluate care of neonates as well as provide education for parents and families. The NNP program has a 98 percent pass rate on the NCC examination.
View a Sample of Our Curriculum.
Program Highlights
- A Highly Demanded, Critical Field: With an estimated 80 vacant positions available for each new NNP graduate across the country, you'll have no trouble jumping back into your career.
- Flexible Course Format: For full-time students, 40 credit hours of coursework are completed within 4 consecutive semesters.
- Top Clinical Sites to Master Your NNP Skills: 700 hours of clinicals in Level III NICUs working with a master's prepared NNP or neonatologist. Regional NICUs include Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Children's Hospital and their affiliates, MetroHealth Medical Center and Akron Children's Hospital.
- Post-Master's Certification Also Available: These certificates are provided based on individual needs and background education.
Interested in becoming an NNP? Learn more from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses in the video above.