Evaluating the Outcomes of Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programmes.

The outcomes of advanced neonatal nurse practitioner (ANNP) programs in the United Kingdom were examined. The different programs of education currently available for nurses wishing to become ANNPs were compared, and the outcomes of ANNP programs, as demonstrated in the levels of performance of practitioners undertaking different programs, were evaluated. Parents' perceptions of the ANNP's role were explored, and the career intentions and attrition rates of those completing or undertaking specific ANNP programs were mapped. Data were collected through the following activities: analysis of documentary material and information for eight ANNP programs; self-completion questionnaires completed by 297 NNPs, NNP students, midwifery managers, and clinicians; semi-structured interviews with 20 NNPs and 12 parents; diary checklists completed by 68 NNPs and 25 senior house officers; and observations of 30 NNPs. The programs reviewed differed significantly from one another in the following respects: academic levels, qualifications, assessment strategies, and goals in terms of clinical practice. Nearly half the students stated that their educational programs had not adequately linked clinical practice with theory. The study established that comparable standards, validation documentation, and core curricula must be developed for NNP programs throughout the United Kingdom. (Contains 79 tables/figures and 71 references.) (MN)