Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Jobs

Description

Neonatal nursing is a relatively new specialty that concentrates on patients in their first 28 days of life. Neonatal nursing jobs are typically found in either a Level I, II or III nursery. A Level I facility is usually a healthy newborn nursery. These opportunities are increasingly rare, since most post-delivery hospital stays for uneventful births are brief, and the mother and child(ren) often share the same room.

Many neonatal nurses work in Level II intermediate care or special care nurseries. These patients typically are premature births or newborns with illnesses. As a result, the patients require supplemental oxygen, intravenous therapy, specialized feedings, or more time to mature before discharge.

Level III neonatal nurses work in intensive care facilities (NICUs) for patients requiring urgent, constant care. These babies are extremely underweight or premature, or require technological assistance, such as ventilators, incubators, other special equipment or surgery. These facilities are usually part of a larger general hospital or a children's hospital.

Responsibilities

Neonatal nurses must have the specialized knowledge to work with newborns, including an understanding of these patients' unique anatomical and physiological needs. Medications, calculations, IV insertion, CPR and other standard treatments must all be adapted for these patients. In addition, neonatal nurses must master technologies unique to newborns, such as incubators and ventilators. Given the intense emotions involved with a difficult birth, strong stress management and communication skills are a must.

Education and Qualification

The minimum requirement for neonatal nurse employment is a registered nurse (RN) license. However, many employers strongly prefer or require advanced training. Very few nursing schools provide a specialized program in neonatal nursing as part of the basic curriculum, although many have elective courses in this area. Many neonatal nurses pursue graduate degrees to become neonatal nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists after two years of experience in this area.

Associations and Publications