Abstract
With an increased demand in the clinical field, physicians and nursing leaders in Iran have been working on developing an advanced practice nursing role. A neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) program was developed by Tehran Medical University with cooperation of Iran's Neonatologist Association. The first group of master's students started their formal education in September 2009 with the principal goal of becoming "clinical nurse practitioners" ready to work in the neonatal intensive care unit as "first responders." Neonatal nurse practitioners are an integral and important aspect of the interdisciplinary team. Although it is a newly practiced role in Iran, it has been well accepted by those in the clinical and academic field. Comparing Iran's admission criteria with other well-experienced countries through the world will better help the development of this new specialty.