Those planning to become a neonatal nurse should practice in a level III NICU as a staff nurse before applying to a graduate program. Some NICUs require prior experience in infant care, such as pediatrics, but others will hire new graduate nurses with an active interest in the field. 2Īfter graduation, a potential neonatal nurse may want to gain experience working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Depending on the state in which a person lives, they may also need to meet other requirements for licensing. To become a licensed RN, a student must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). 1,3 Prospective nurses must also go through a period of supervised clinical experience and obtain a nursing license. 2 Required EducationĪspiring nurses must first complete the requirements of becoming an RN by obtaining an associate degree, diploma or bachelor's degree from an accredited nursing degree program. The capacity to make independent decisions and quickly deal with emotions, refocus and re-engage in responsibilities is crucial. Neonatal nurses should also maintain excellent professionalism and have an attention to detail under stress in order to accurately care for critically ill infants. Neonatal nurses may function as communicators between doctors and parents, so they must be able to effectively communicate medical status and procedures between medical professionals and families. They should also have a strong sense of empathy, compassion and excellent communication skills, along with the aptitude to not to let personal feelings interfere with critical thinking. Neonatal nurses should have the ability to handle the intense emotional stress that accompanies newborns in life-and-death situations. They must demonstrate the ability to tolerate and understand infant activities and behaviors, for example, changing diapers quickly and carefully and listening to babies cry without losing patience. First and foremost, they should have a great desire to nurture infants and enjoy caring for them. Neonatal nurses should possess all the nursing skills of a registered nurse in addition to the skills relevant to providing nursing care for at-risk newborns and their families. While this field may be fulfilling, there are some character traits, educational requirements and certifications a prospective nurse should be aware of before pursuing a career in neonatal nursing. There are approximately 40,000 low-birth-weight infants born annually in the U.S., but survival rates are ten times higher now than they were 15 years ago thanks to these advanced practice nurses, physicians and medical advances. Neonatal nurses assist with the care of newborns delivered prematurely or considered at risk, but their duties can also encompass care for infants who experience long-term problems related to an early birth or illness after birth. Registered nurses (RNs) with a particular interest in newborns may consider neonatal nursing as a career option.
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