1. 2016 Senior Exit project Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Allison Sparks
Simon Kenton High School
Accelerated English 4, 4th Period
Mrs. Thiel

2. Why This Career?
After much thought and consideration about my future, I have decided to be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
Throughout my life I have always known that I enjoyed taking care of others. Whether it be the injured kid on the playground or my sister having the flu, I always found myself jumping at the opportunity to nurture.
Neonatal signifies that I will be a nurse for critically ill babies. I will excel at this job because I am compassionate, organized, and calm in high pressure situations.

3. Job Description and Skills
“Nurse practitioners (NPs) serve as primary and specialty care providers, delivering advanced nursing services to patients and their families. NPs assess patients, determine the best way to improve or manage a patient’s health, and discuss ways to integrate health promotion strategies into a patient’s life. (OOH)”.
A NP’s role is to be one of the experts on the field that they are placed and to be a leader in the hospital setting.
Nurse Practitioners must be calm and efficient in high pressure situations.

4. Education and Training
Required Bachelor’s of Nursing Degree
I plan to earn the degree at The University of Kentucky’s College of Nursing.
Complete clinicals at the surrounding hospitals.
In order to become a Practitioner, I must receive a Master’s Degree which I also plan on completing at UK shortly after a few years of experience in the field.

5. Appearance
Nurse Practitioners work mainly in hospitals or doctor’s offices
One is required to wear scrubs and nonslip shoes
Nurses must wear their hair up and out of the face area
Surgical gloves are also worn in most circumstances

6. Employment and Availability
Employment of Nurse Practitioners is expected to grow as much as 31% up until 2024
The demand for health care is steadily increasing
APRNs can preform the majority of the same health services as physicians
There is many hospitals and opportunities where I will live in Lexington, Kentucky

7. Salary and Promotions
“The median annual Nurse Practitioner salary is $99,326 with a range usually between $92,162-$107,896”
Neonatal is the highest paying specialty of nurse practitioners
The longer a nurse works in a hospital and the more experience gained results in eventual pay raises

8. Hazards and Drawbacks Extensive education is required
Working long and demanding hours
Conditions in the work place include diseases, blood, fluids ect.
High stress atmosphere and responsibilities

9. 10 Years Later… At age 28 I plan to be hopefully married with kids
I will be graduated/graduating with my Master’s degree in Neonatal Nursing
Working full-time in a NICU
Acquired many animals including multiple dogs and a pony

10. Backup Plan Get a degree in business/marketing
Work as a marketing specialist at a large global corporation
There is many opportunities for promotion in this field
Volunteer on mission trips to third world countries often

11. Evolution of Me Throughout the course of high school I have….
Improved my work ethic and study skills
Learned the importance of great friends
Matured as an individual
I owe a thank you to my mother for always supporting me and teaching me right from wrong. She is a great role model and I strive to be the wife and mother she is one day.

12. College Budget
University of Kentucky Tuition- paying with 4-year Scholarship (40,000)
Room and Board- paying with kees money and a savings account(10,000)
KEES Money- 2,000 approx.

13. Personal Budget Gas- $60 a month Food- Toiletries-$35 tbt
Recreation/ shopping-$100 a month