 |
|
|
|
Neonatal nurses are specialized registered nurses. They care for infants during the first month after birth and are essential to a neonatal health care team.
What Does a Neonatal Nurse Do?
Neonatal nurses are trained to care for newborn infants who are younger than 28 days. These babies may be premature, healthy or suffering from a particular medical condition. Neonatal nurses also often care for the mothers and show parents the best way to care for newborns.
At the outset, neonatal nurses usually begin work in a Level I nursery at a clinic, hospital or midwifery center, where they take care of healthy babies. Their duties often include feeding, bathing, changing, nursing and talking to the infants. They also teach infant care to parents and help ease any parental anxiety.
More experienced neonatal nurses may choose to work in a Level II nursery. In this case, their duties generally involve providing care and support for premature infants. They monitor infant health, protect babies from contracting infectious diseases, watch for potential medical problems such as temperature shock and perform minor medical treatments as needed.
The most demanding neonatal nursing takes place in Level III nurseries. The clinical setting at this level is Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), for premature, low birth-weight babies. Neonatal nurses may be required to perform invasive surgical procedures or even emergency resuscitation. One of their other invaluable roles in this setting is to support and reassure worried parents who are unsure how to meet their infant's medical needs.
Some neonatal nurses are part of a neonatal transport team. In this case, you would provide specialized and expert care to ill infants while they are being transported to a medical facility.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Neonatal Nurse?
For a career as a neonatal nurse, you will need to first obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN). If possible, pursue a concentration in infant or child care. During your education, you may study:
If you are still in high school, you can prepare for your degree by taking biology, chemistry and mathematics courses.
After graduating with a BSN, take the national licensing exam, called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). With a passing score, you obtain your nursing license to practice.
Begin working as a nurse to gain experience. Two to three years of nursing experience are often required to move into a neonatal nurse position.
Next, you will need to become certified in Neonatal Resuscitation. To study, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations offer courses. You then will need to pass an examination for certification.
After working as a neonatal nurse for at least 2,000 hours, you could also obtain a credential in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. This, too, requires passing an examination. Study books and courses specifically for this certification are available.
How to Become a Great Neonatal Nurse
A great neonatal nurse has confidence and team leadership skills. Dedication, emotional stability and the ability to stay calm under pressure are also essential. Exceptional neonatal nurses have solid interpersonal skills and are compassionate towards parents and family members. They thoroughly understand the physical and psychological needs of a premature baby and are enthusiastic about continuing their education in the field.
If you wanted, you could advance within neonatal care. Consider returning to school to obtain a master's degree in nursing to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) and, therefore, be qualified to work in level III settings--NICUs. According to the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN), specialist neonatal nurse practitioners or teachers may make up to $20,000 more per year than registered nurses.
You could join a professional organization, such as the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN). Its mission is to support the careers and continuing education of neonatal nurses throughout the United States.
Neonatal Nurse Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), future job opportunities for neonatal nurses are expected to be excellent, as these professionals are expected to be in high demand. To attract more qualified nurses, many hospitals and clinics are offering signing bonuses, subsidized training and family-friendly work schedules. The mean annual wage for registered nurses, the category encompassing neonatal nurses, was $66,530 in 2009.
Resources for Neonatal Nurses
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
Copyright © QuinStreet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
