As your knowledge, experience and educational attainment level grows, you may be eligible for job titles such as developmental care specialist, clinical care specialist or nurse manager, according to NANN . The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) notes that some nursing schools offer internship opportunities for students to build this experience prior to graduation. Employment for all nurse practitioners was projected to increase 28%. Work hours can be sporadic, depending on your employer. Neonatal nursing positions are usually found in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Neonatal nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) can work in clinics, in hospitals or as consultants. The National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP), a division of NANN, gives NNPs a distinct voice within NANN to address career development and educational needs and provides representation to address advanced neonatal practice issues in the larger nursing community. A number of NICUs require nurses to gain experience working with children or infants prior to being hired. Neonatal nurses may also choose to advance their careers or specialize in a particular area with specialty certifications like: Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC) S.T.A.B.L.E. Some employers use a traditional 8-hour schedule, but because medical facilities operate 24 hours a day, shifts are often longer and 12-hour shifts are not uncommon. Program Critical Care Neonatal Nursing (CCRN (Neonatal)) Step 5: How to Become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner NANN is the only national nonprofit association created by neonatal nurses for neonatal nurses. Neonatal nurses also have the potential for career advancement within this specialization.