The term “neonatal” refers to the first month of an infant’s life, but neonatal nurses may treat ailing newborns until they are discharged from the hospital, even if that takes several months. With that in mind, a neonatal nurse must be level-headed in order to ensure the a professional and respectful manner is maintained during treatment and care. It's true that all nursing specialties relating to childbirth can be both physically and emotionally taxing, which is why the most successful nurses not only excel on the job, but they understand the importance of prioritizing self-care. While becoming a neonatal nurse may seem appealing to most nurses, the truth is that it requires a unique set of skills and qualities to be successful as a neonatal nurse. These advanced roles will allow you to support staff and direct educational programs that will improve patient care across the board. Graduates require licensure to work as a registered nurse, after which they can begin applying for careers in neonatal nursing. Simply put, these nurses specialize in working with newborn babies. These newborns often require intensive nurturing and around-the-clock monitoring for weeks to months until they are healthy and fully developed enough to go home. Preferably, you will go to a university where you can receive a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN, BScN) degree. You know this fulfilling career could bring benefits to both your life and the lives of the patients with whom you’ll work every day. This valuable experience will show employers that you have the hands-on skills you need to care for infants, which makes for a smoother transition to the NICU. Many NICUs require RNs to at least have their Neonatal … You want to get a better idea of what this role is all about before you make any choices. However, they utilize some new grads as well. However, not all neonatal nurses work in such intense settings. You might be responsible for babies with a range of health needs so being highly organised, flexible and able to prioritise effectively will be vital. Neonatal nurses must have a passion for working with newborns and their families, and the ability to thrive in the high-pressure, fast-paced environment of the NICU. The only guide you'll ever need to prepare for your nursing interview (Part 1)Surviving nursing school is no small accomplishment, but now you have to ace that job interview. Most neonatal nurses will be quick to tell you that the rewards of their meaningful work greatly outweigh any stressors they may face. Many NICUs will even host special events — such as holiday parties — to which all families of babies who passed through their facility that year are invited. Become a NICU nurse by getting an MSN and earn an avg. Within a BSN program, you will complete your general education courses and also have training in math and science requirements that will be integral to your future career as a … It should also be noted that neonatal nurses experience positive opportunities for career growth if desired. Once you’ve obtained you degree and licensure, things get less linear. In order to become a neonatal nurse, a candidate must meet the minimum educational requirements for all nurses. By The College of St. Scholastica | @StScholastica | Dec 18, 2017. Also known as a Neonatal Nurse, an NICU Nurse works with a team to provide treatment to these infants. Because newborns are unable to fully communicate how they feel, neonatal nurses are responsible for honing both their observational and critical thinking skills to best meet patients' needs. A neonatal nurse will have a variety of job duties throughout the day. Acquire Working Experience 3. Given that many NICU patients are severely premature, a big focus is placed on feeding patients and ensuring they reach developmental goals. You may be able to find a neonatal nursing role straight out of school, but there’s also a good chance you’ll need to first build experience if you’re looking for a NICU position. Additionally they’ll need to be excellent, empathetic communicators—the nature of this work means they may have to relay bad or seemingly scary news to new parents and help them process what it means. She earned her MFA in poetry and teaches as an adjunct English instructor. Do you think you have what it takes to work with some of our population's most fragile patients? Rasmussen College may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Working as a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) nurse or specializing in neonatal sounds appealing to you. While this isn't a decision of nurses, they do interact with patients' families, relaying important information and supporting them during difficult times. Neonatal nurses, like all RNs, have three choices for their basic education. the National Center for Biotechnology Information. She loves to write, teach and talk about the power of effective communication. You need to be a registered adult nurse, child nurse or midwife to apply for a job as a neonatal nurse. 10.05.2020, Anjali Stenquist |
By selecting "Submit", I authorize Rasmussen College to contact me by email, phone or text message at the number provided. Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees for a list of programs offered. But once you've selected nursing as your passion, you still have another important decision to make: Which sector of nursing would you like to specialize in? All Rights Reserved. A neonatal nurse working in a NICU could expect to start the day with responsibilities that more or less resemble what you’d see with other nursing specialties—dividing patient loads, relaying important patient information, reviewing notes and checking in with all patients and their families. 1. Build clinical experience working in a neonatal facility. Neonatal Nurse Job Overview and Tips What Does a Neonatal Nurse Do? Neonatal nursing is a branch of healthcare that focuses on providing care for infants who were born prematurely, or are suffering from health problems such as birth defects, infections, or heart deformities. Brianna is a content writer for Collegis Education who writes student focused articles on behalf of Rasmussen College. Part of the clinical rotation includes time in nurseries and may include time in the NICU, but most neonatal nurses learn their skills after graduation, by reading, attending seminars or on-the-job training. The College of St. Scholastica is an independent private Catholic Benedictine college with locations across Minnesota, in addition to many high-quality programs available online and through convenient evening and weekend formats. handling bereavements or related areas, for example breast feeding. They also work very closely with the families of their patients, keeping them informed on their infant's status and teaching them how to care for any special needs that they may have. Neonatal nursing units require experienced, adept nurses. Obviously these patients can’t just say how they’re feeling or what’s bothering them, so neonatal nurses will need an in-depth knowledge of common neonatal ailments and the risks unique to this patient population. Since 1912, St. Scholastica has been preparing students for a life of purpose and economic gain by engaging students in the love of learning and active citizenship in the world. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. Because of the high-pressure environment — including heightened needs of the babies being treated, mounting fears of family members and a swarm of medical professionals working to care for patients — neonatal nurses must be skilled in handling stress. They work within a team of medical professionals most commonly in hospital environments, although some neonatal nurses may work for in-home health services or on neonatal transport teams. Employment conditions in your area may vary. Experts share what employers are looking for in part one of this two-part mini series. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of NICU nursing is managing the emotions that come with it—the highs of seeing an almost impossibly tiny premature baby overcome the odds will contrast with the lows of a family knowing their newborn might not be coming home. You’ve been thinking about becoming a nurse for a long time now. This question gives them a chance to tell you what motivates them and explain how they got where they are today. Neonatal nurses “will help integrate parents into the critical care that you provide,” according to NANN. The care of your patients includes: medication administration, hygiene care (cleaning up vomit, stool, urine, mucus etc. Although one can achieve RN licensure with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, the BSN can be better preparation for a neonatal intensive care unit. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college. Please select another program of interest. Get a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate Degree in Nursing 2. Another big difference from other types of nursing is the literal size of your patients—medications obviously need to be scaled down and require precision to ensure they’re safely administered. 09.23.2019. One moment may be overwhelmed by the joy of a newborn child; the next may be one of quiet tragedy and sympathy at … Here are 9 specialties to consider. In community college, you earn your Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN); in a four-year university, you’ll earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In addition to the often fast-paced environment of the NICU, those working with high-risk newborns are no strangers to facing complicated ethical dilemmas that can at times feed emotional stress. For the newborns duration at the Hospital, the Neonatal nurse is there assigned nurse; this is helpful for parents who now have a name and face to go to when they have questions. 1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed December, 2019] www.bls.gov/ooh/. You’re probably wondering how the work of a neonatal nurse compares to other types of nursing specialties. Your best bet is to get established as a nurse at a facility with a NICU and build experience in infant care—pediatrics and well-newborn nurseries are good options if possible. Likewise, other federal or state laws may apply too based on where you are located. With higher-risk patients typically comes a smaller nurse to patient ratio—NICU patients just need additional care. NICUs are designed to provide care for sick and premature infants during the transitional period after birth, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse offers round-the-clock treatment and care for newborn infants that are premature or are suffering from illnesses such as congenital defects and respiratory problems. This will usually involve specific training modules on different aspects of neonatal nursing. They assist physicians with the delivery of the babies and also help new mothers with breastfeeding and bottle feeding their infants. Despite what the job title implies, neonatal nurses should expect to work with infants’ families just as much as the infants themselves. A neonatal nurse can earn between $46,166 and $100,755 a year. Most neonatal nurses work in a typical hospital environment—usually in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or maternity ward. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited college authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Talk with an admissions advisor today. They assist pediatricians in assessing and treating conditions and developmental phases unique to these growing and developing bodies, often communicating with and educating parents along the way. Neonatal nurses are licensed RNs, typically with a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) or other advanced nursing degree. It should be noted that some employers may prefer neonatal nurses who’ve earned a Bachelor’s degree—particularly if you’re planning to work at a large hospital. There is no obligation to enroll. In the neonatal nurse CV example, there are details about what this position requires each day. It can be incredibly difficult for healthcare teams to decide when to let go of a critically ill patient. In fact, job openings for registered nurses (RNs) are expected to increase by 15 percent through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — that's more than double the rate for all occupations nationwide. Neonatal nurses are registered nurses who specialize in working with these young, vulnerable patients. You can be a leader if you choose to do so. More info. Pu… The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses earned a 2018 median annual salary of $71,730.1. Registered nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, of a hospital share key characteristics that make them successful at caring for newborns with serious, acute or medically complex health conditions. Neonatal nurses also have the potential for career advancement within this specialization. Neonatal nursing is not for the faint of heart, but for the right person—it’s a nursing career that puts you in contact with the patients you love most. While all registered nursing jobs have a fair amount of common ground—administering medication, charting important information and answering questions all can be expected—there are a few nuances worth noting. Neonatal nurse education and training Your first step to becoming a neonatal nurse is to become a registered nurse by obtaining an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. You can also expect to work closely with labor and delivery nurses to facilitate the transition from the delivery room to the NICU. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: Annual $105,658 or $50.79/hr* For nurses with an interest in mental … It's clear that neonatal nursing is a specialty that calls for some of the most skilled and passionate nurses out there. Students share their sentimentsFrom the flexible job opportunities to the profound community impact nurses can make, this career path has the potential to reap a lifetime of rewards. They may complete a two-year associate degree program, a two- or three-year nursing diploma or a four-year bachelor’s degree. Being a neonatal nurse tends to be a job with a lot of pressure, so you need to learn as much as possible about the candidate's personality and goals. Read on for a brief breakdown of their differences and join us as we delve into the specific duties and pressures of neonatal nurses in particular. If you're already a practicing RN, you might consider advancing your nursing expertise by earning a bachelor's degree. Discover more career paths and how Johnson & Johnson empowers nurse-led innovation. But you know the neonatal nurse job description isn’t all baby rattles and cooing infants. If you've already earned a bachelor's degree in a different field, but you're now eager to change directions and pursue something more meaningful, you can learn more about your options by visiting the post-baccalaureate nursing program page. To be a successful Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, you should have the necessary training to provide focused care to at-risk infants, a caring and compassionate nature to deal with parents and guardians, and the ability to work in a supervisory capacity. It takes a steady presence and good self-care habits to manage this fact. ), educating patients and their families, calling doctors, monitoring sick patients, performing CPR (if needed), dealing with difficult patients (confused, combative, and rude) and charting/documenting everything. A NICU registered nurse will most likely be in a hospital environment where the stakes for the patient are likely to be higher. The truth is, it takes a special person to be involved in this type of nursing. What does it take to be successful as a neonatal nurse? This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen College to support its educational programs. A neonatal nurse works in the NICU center of a hospital, which houses newborn patients who are critically ill. Pay close attention to detail - In neonatal nursing, the little things often matter a whole lot. With additional training, education and experience, they can pursue a number of advanced positions such as becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner or perhaps an administrative role as unit manager. To be a neonatal nurse practitioner, there are fundamental legal requirements and educational training. At a minimum, this entails earning an associate degree in nursing, although the standards of practice for nursing increasingly favor a BSN. They must maintain a steady outpouring of compassion to work with the families of their patients during some of the most highly emotional times of their lives. Nurses within this specialty must be skilled in communicating with patients' families and with other healthcare professionals. 11.11.2019, Will Erstad |
This includes coaching women through labor, offering advice on pain management and monitoring the vitals of both the mother and the baby throughout the entire process. As your knowledge, experience and educational attainment level grows, you may be eligible for job titles such as developmental care specialist, clinical care specialist or nurse manager, according to NANN. While some hospitals hire candidates who have completed only an associate degree in nursing (ADN), most employers require a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). • Pediatric nurses work with patients from the time they are infants and through childhood until they reach young adulthood. After all, … Fill out the form to receive information about: There are some errors in the form. The newborns they care for need round-the-clock attention, so nurses within this specialty are accustomed to working long shifts caring for anywhere from one to four infants at a time. Neonatal nursing is a sub-specialty of nursing care for newborn infants up to 28 days after birth. After a period of six months of relevant experience, you’ll be encouraged to undertake professional development. After graduation, they take the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed. Because infants in the NICU can develop complications without warning, the skills and judgment of nurses are relied upon at all times. Before you can become a neonatal nurse or even a nurse practitioner, you have graduated and become a registered nurse. Everyone can be a leader and serve the profession. Some neonatal nurses report experiencing less physical stress compared to other nursing specialties, if for no other reason than the fact that the newborn babies and their families are a joyful population to work with. There are actually more than 100 nursing specialties to choose from, since nurses play a critical role in just about every aspect of healthcare. However, you will need to seize your opportunity to serve the neonatal community. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015. Once you become a practicing RN, you’ll need … Generally speaking, nursing requires a person to be able to pivot between a number of different extremes that range from emotional challenges associated with… Caring for sick babies and offering support to their families can definitely be rewarding. It's also true that NICUs are different from adult intensive care units, as infants have some very specific developmental needs. If you're drawn to the idea of dedicating your career to challenging work you can be proud of as you improve the lives of others, nursing can seem like a clear-cut path to embark upon.Not only has nursing been voted the most trusted profession for 15 years running, but nurses are also continually in high demand. 1. But what other skills matter in a neonatal or NICU nurse? Neonatal nurses care for infants who are born with issues such as premature birth, birth defects, infections or cardiac issues, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN). That said, a neonatal nurse working in a mother and baby center that doesn’t facilitate high risk pregnancies can probably expect to have a larger number of patients under their supervision each shift. When they are able to see infants who were once critically ill later go on to thrive, they are reminded of the true purpose of their day-to-day work. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2020. A Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse cares for premature and critically ill newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital. Neonatal nurses, along with other nurses working in hospitals, work shifts at night, on weekends and during holidays too. of $48K–$97K yearly. Our mission is to provide intellectual and moral preparation for responsible living and meaningful work. The NICU environment can be undoubtedly stressful for nurses, infants and families alike. Some employers may ask for experience or knowledge of neonatal nursing issues eg. Education In order to become a neonatal nurse, one must first become an RN holding either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The program you have selected is not available in your area. We analyzed more than 25,000 neonatal nursing job postings to uncover the other important skills employers are seeking:2. Personal characteristics and skills required (neonatal nursing) This page has information on the personal characteristics and skills needed for neonatal nursing. These nurses must be alert and mentally agile for the entirety of every shift. Please correct the errors and submit again. © 2020 Rasmussen College, LLC. Some care for healthy babies in mother-baby nurseries, and others work in clinics or home healthcare to provide follow-up care for infants. From working well under pressure to infusing each shift with an extra helping of compassion and even knowing how to take care of one's own needs to ensure quality work is always provided, these nurses are unlike any others. There will be a 26% increase in the number of NR jobs available across the board from 2012 to 2013. Your first step to becoming a neonatal nurse is to become a registered nurse by obtaining an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Licensure involves passing the NCLEX and registering with the state in which the nurse practices. For many, the decision to become a nurse is an easy one. Visit The College of St. Scholastica's RN to BS program page for more information. Pursue National/Specialty Certifications. % increase in the NICU, … neonatal nurses, along with other healthcare professionals meaningful! 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