Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Fellowship achieved “Accreditation with Distinction” from
the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in July
2019, becoming the first ANCC-accredited Neonatal Nurse
Practitioner (NNP) program in the country.
The NNP Fellowship at Children’s Colorado, which launched
in 2016, is a one-year, transition-to-practice program
designed for newly graduated NNPs. Through classroom
exercises, one-on-one mentorships with experienced NNPs,
high-fidelity simulations and direct patient care at NICUs
and special care nurseries, the fellowship program aims to
teach specialized skills to the new graduate. The program
offers an evidence-based education to our newest NNPs,
promotes lifelong learning and professional engagement
and helps Children’s Colorado recruit and retain top talent.
STRUCTURAL EMPOWERMENT
Neonatal Nurse
Practitioner
Fellowship Earns
Accreditation
with Distinction
from the ANCC
July 26, 2019
The ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation process
validates hospital residency or fellowship programs that
transition registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice
registered nurses (APRNs) into new practice settings that
meet rigorous, evidence-based standards for quality and
excellence. APRNs in accredited transition programs, like
our Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Fellowship, acquire the
knowledge, skills and professional behaviors necessary to
deliver safe, high-quality care to every patient.
“We are proud that Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Neonatal
Nurse Practitioner Fellowship is recognized by ANCC as
one of the highest quality transition programs for Neonatal
Nurse Practitioners (NNPs),” said Pat Givens, DHA, EdM,
RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing
Executive. “ANCC accreditation gives APRNs assurance that
Children’s Hospital Colorado offers an elevated transition
to practice program with a clear course of instruction and
reliable evaluation methods. With ANCC accreditation,
our transitioning nurse practitioners gain the skills and
confidence needed to perform effectively within a new
practice setting.”
Kudos to Stacey Wall, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, NEA-
BC, Director of Advanced Practice; Jessica Benes, MAN,
APRN, NNP-BC, Manager Neonatal Nurse Practitioners;
Linda McCarney, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC, Lead NNP
Education Coordinator; and her team, Nora Scott-Hurban,
MSN, APRN, NNP-BC and Allyson Stevens, MSN, APRN,
NNP-BC, for working to make this program the first ANCCaccredited
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Fellowship of its
kind in the country.
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