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Courses offered by the Council of International Neonatal Nurses

Courses offered by COINN by request

Welcome to the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) Community of Neonatal Nursing Practice. On this page you can find the description of the evidenced-based standardized curricula that COINN has developed. Each course has been developed by a team of neonatal nurse professionals in collaboration with COINN. The courses are all standardized based on the COINN Competency Framework and the COINN Competency Skills Checklist used to measure clinical performance.

Neonatal Nursing courses offered by COINN

Neonatal Orientation Externship

Neonatal Nursing courses offered by COINN

Post Diploma Program in Neonatal Nursing (PDIP-neonatal nursing)

Neonatal Nursing courses offered by COINN

Master in Neonatal Nursing (MSc in Neonatal Nursing)

Neonatal Nursing courses offered by COINN

Neonatal Advanced Continuing Education

Neonatal Nursing courses offered by COINN

Neonatal Preceptor Training

Neonatal Externship/Orientation
Neonatal Nursing Educational Courses by the Community of Practice

Neonatal Orientation Externship

This course is created for new and current nurses/midwives working in neonatal units. The course offers 12-weeks of didactic lectures. The didactic component includes lectures on neonatal nursing, pregnancy, labor, and birth; essential care of the newborn,  feeding the term infant; failure to breath, organization of the neonatal unit; introduction to the small and sick newborn and feeding the small and sick infant; pharmacology, infection; respiratory and hematology; neurology and advanced resuscitation; genetics and surgery; cardiac and eye, ear and throat; neurodevelopment and discharge; ethics, quality improvement (QI )and research then leadership and teaching other. There is an expectation that as the students proceed through the program that they are being precepted in a neonatal unit. 

Post Diploma Program in Neonatal Nursing (PDIP-neonatal nursing)

Post Diploma Program in Neonatal Nursing (PDIP-neonatal nursing)

This course is for universities to offer to nurses/midwives who are working in neonatal units. We are asking the participants to have a minimum of two years’ experience working in neonatal units. Nurses or midwives from other countries must provide proof of equivalent certification. Curriculum includes Embryology, Anatomy & Physiology, Genetics, Basic Resuscitation, Care of the small and sick newborn, Management of Infection, High risk management I & II, Care of the neonate in the neonatal unit and beyond, Advanced Resuscitation, Quality Improvement and Research, Leadership and Adult learning courses. The didactic portion runs for nine months then there is an expected three months of preceptorship in a neonatal unit. 

Neonatal Nursing Educational Courses by the Community of Practice
Master in Neonatal Nursing (MSc in Neonatal Nursing)
Neonatal Nursing Educational Courses by the Community of Practice

Master in Neonatal Nursing (MSc in Neonatal Nursing)

This course is developed to be offered by universities and colleges. Graduates will apply knowledge to solve human and environmental health problems and provide them with the Neonatal Nurse Competencies and skills to function in the clinical and university level as practitioners and/or educators. Candidates must possess a BSc in nursing from a university, a minimum of two-year-post qualification working as a registered nurse or midwife in a Level II and/or III WHO standard neonatal unit, they must meet the minimum admission requirement for the university offering this MSc program. The course is full time master program offered over four semesters to a maximum of six semesters. The program is created to be given over 16 weeks of teaching and 4 weeks of clinical practice. The courses offered include, Advanced neonatal health assessment, Theoretical foundations of neonatal health, Embryology and physiology of developed systems, Research methods and evidence-based practice, Roles of neonatal nurse specialist/advanced practice nurses; Neonatal nursing birth to 2 years of age; Neonatal advanced skills, Advanced neonatal pharmacology, Neonatal physiology and management I, Nursing administration and organization systems, Neonatal clinical practicum I, Neonatal physiology and management II, Legal and ethical, Concepts in education and clinical learning, Transitioning to advanced practice role, Clinical practicum II, Professional posting in neonatal fellowship, Nursing seminars, a Project, a Dissertation. Clinical requirement is 770 hours over the four semester (or six semesters). 

Neonatal advanced continuing education

Neonatal Advanced Continuing Education

This 6-month course is created for MSc neonatal/pediatric graduates or faculty at a university that are involved in teaching neonatal content. The expectation is that each student member has a master’s degree in nursing or midwifery or actively work at a university as a neonatal instructor with a minimum of 1-year clinical experience within a neonatal unit and teaching experience. The students must demonstrate that they have had completed education in advanced pharmacology, advanced physiology, advanced assessment. The didactic includes Neonatal/developmental pathophysiology; Advanced neonatal health assessment; Neonatal pharmacotherapeutics, Maternal health and implication for the fetus/neonate, Neonatal management I, II and III. The expectation is that students will participate in a preceptor experience in a neonatal unit.

Neonatal Nursing Educational Courses by the Community of Practice
Neonatal Preceptor Training
Neonatal Nursing Educational Courses by the Community of Practice

Neonatal Preceptor Training

This course is for any nurse/midwife or faculty member who will preceptor new staff or students in the neonatal unit. The expectation is that the participant will have a minimum of 1-year neonatal unit experience. This is a 6 Module course that is coupled with the Clinical and Faculty Preceptor Manual. This 100+-page manual offers guidelines and printable forms to be used within the clinical assessment, participant assessment and other resources. The course includes definitions used in the precepted experience, facility or unit and preceptor assessments, information on the preceptor role and transition from learner to preceptor, an educator, facilitator, and evaluator modules. 

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