1. Stephanie Gerrald

2. GOALS My main career goal is to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. I have wanted to become a health professional for as long as I can remember, but I have only recently decided on this specific goal. It is a career path that I’m excited to pursue and follow.

3. Necessary Education (specific to my current situation)  BSN (Bachelors of Science in Health Science) 4 Years  Accelerated second-degree Nursing Program 1 2 Years Become licensed RN and accumulate two years’ experience working with neonates  Master’s in NNP care (2 years) 2 OR  Bridge from BSN to doctor of nursing practice (DNP)

4. Salary Ranges  RN: $45,000-$99,000 3 Median: $66,640  NNP: $68,000-$130,000 4 Median: $95,350

5. Cost of School  Second Degree Nursing Program at Clemson University ~$46,608 total for two years 5 ○ tuition ($13,308/year) ○ room and board (~$8,358/year) ○ books (~$1,138/year)  Masters in NNP Average ~$18,000 for in-state 6

6. Job Outlook  Demand for neonatal nurse practitioners is high  There is an expected 34% job growth between 2012-2022 7

7. History of Nurse Practitioners  Relatively new job title Established as an official role in 1960s 8  The NP position arose after the implementation of Medicaid and Medicare when the supply of physicians couldn’t meet the demand 8 Experienced nurses stepped up to fill the void

8. History Cont  First formal NP training program was introduced at Colorado University in 1965 9  Growth 9 In 1979, there were approximately 15,000 NPs in the U.S. By 2014, the NP force grew to over 192,000

9. Personality Traits  Caring 10 I have a heart for babies and would love to be in a position to do everything I can to help them  Perform well under pressure 10 I do not get stressed easily and can perform at a high level during times of high pressure

10. O*Net Personality Traits  Top 3 Traits 11 Social ○ My personality is suited for helping and communicating with other people Investigative ○ I enjoy being presented with a problem and figuring out how to solve it effectively and efficiently ○ I like the challenges that solving complex problems bring Artistic ○ I like having a sequence of steps to follow but also being able to use my imagination to come up with creative ways to solve problems

11. Personality Traits Con’t. Those three traits embody the spirit of a nurse practitioner. In order to succeed, they must have a desire to help people, possess strong critical thinking skills, and have a certain amount of creativity. I believe that I have all of those traits and therefore would be well suited for a job as a neonatal nurse practitioner.

12. I have dreamed about being a neonatal nurse practitioner for many years. While, the extra schooling requires a lot of time and money, I believe it will be well worth it when I can play an integral role in saving the lives of infants every day. I am confident that my personality is suited for the position and I am well on my way to acquiring the skills necessary to succeed.

13. Sources  http://www.clemson.edu/hehd/departments/nur sing/prospective/second_degree/ http://www.clemson.edu/hehd/departments/nur sing/prospective/second_degree/  http://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/h ow-to-become-neonatal-np http://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/h ow-to-become-neonatal-np  http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm  http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm  http://www.clemson.edu/admissions/undergrad uate/costs-financial-aid.html http://www.clemson.edu/admissions/undergrad uate/costs-financial-aid.html  http://www.midlevelu.com/blog/how-much- does-it-cost-become-nurse-practitioner http://www.midlevelu.com/blog/how-much- does-it-cost-become-nurse-practitioner

14. Sources Con’t.  http://learn.org/articles/Neonatal_Nurse_Career_S ummary_Job_Outlook_and_Education_Requireme nts.html http://learn.org/articles/Neonatal_Nurse_Career_S ummary_Job_Outlook_and_Education_Requireme nts.html  http://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891- 5245(08)00323-4/abstract http://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891- 5245(08)00323-4/abstract  http://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/historical- timeline http://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/historical- timeline  http://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what- is-neonatal-np http://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what- is-neonatal-np  http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip- print?t=o&z=5&i=122415251313 http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip- print?t=o&z=5&i=122415251313  http://www.onetonline.org/explore/interests/ http://www.onetonline.org/explore/interests/