They are also responsible for:. A NICU nurse works in a critical care unit. The level of care a NICU nurse may provide varies from supportive care to intensive care. NICUs are classified into four levels. They are:. NICU nurses usually work full-time positions on varying shifts. Some NICU nurses work per diem—or the days they are needed by the hospital. The salary of a NICU nurse varies based on their level of:.
Related: 10 Highest-Paid Nursing Jobs. RNs are the fastest rising occupation compared to other occupations. Other reasons for the rise:. If you decide to advance your education, you may consider becoming an advanced practice nurse. APNs are:. Your role is to:. The first step to becoming a NICU nurse is to obtain a nursing degree from an accredited nursing program that is approved by your state nursing board. Nursing programs typically include coursework such as:.
An ADN is a two-year degree in nursing. This will give you the license to practice as an RN. Once you have become an RN, you can begin gaining clinical experience. If you are a new graduate or a nurse who wants to transfer into the NICU, you will likely need a minimum of two years of clinical experience in neonatal care focusing on:.
Some hospitals hire new graduates right into the NICU without experience. Usually, they offer a fellowship for those interested in working in the NICU.
In addition to becoming a registered nurse and obtaining clinical experience, NICU nurses may desire to earn certifications for career advancement and skill development. It covers:. Certifications include:. According to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, nurses interested in this certification may work in areas such as:.
As is common with many professional certifications, NICU nursing certifications have continuing education requirements to maintain your certification, including maintaining an unrestricted RN license.
Once you've gained the necessary education, and experience needed to become a NICU nurse, you are ready to begin searching for and preparing to apply to jobs. You should start by doing an online search for available NICU nurse positions in your area.
Infants might be born prematurely, or with congenital disorders or infections. According to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses NANN , about 40, infants are born with below-healthy birth weights each year in the United States, thus potentially predisposing them to a number of health challenges during delivery or immediately after birth.
Although "neonatal" technically refers to infants up to one month old, neonatal nurses might work with young children up to two years old. If you want to learn more about the neonatal nursing profession as a whole, this guide will serve as a useful resource. Neonatal nurses perform a wide variety of tasks. They may assist with birthing, and they measure and weigh infants after they are born.
The bulk of their profession involves caring for infants immediately after birth. Neonatal nurses work in neonatal intensive care units NICU and maternity wards at hospitals, birthing centers, and clinics.
They may carry out their duties in delivery rooms and nurseries. These nurseries have special equipment, like ventilators, blood pressure monitors, oxygen hoods, and incubators that help infants gain enough oxygen and maintain fluid balance. These work environments are often stressful, as infants who need extra medical care also need constant attention. This means neonatal nurses must stay on high alert and work well under pressure.
Neonatal nurses can follow the same educational pathways as any registered nurse RN. However, the programs differ in length and focus, among other features. ADN programs require fewer general education courses, and instead students dedicate most of their coursework to foundational nursing skills. In contrast, BSN programs include more general education courses in the humanities and social sciences in addition to the core nursing courses.
A BSN curriculum typically involves more writing , giving students a chance to hone their communication skills. The last two years of a BSN program focus on nursing techniques, theory, and ethics. If you have an affinity for babies and a calm, confident demeanor , you might be an ideal candidate to be a difference-maker for infants and their families. There are many different types of nurses you can become , including other options working with children, such as becoming a pediatric nurse or labor and delivery nurse.
You can take our nursing personality quiz to determine what kind of nursing is best for you. Neonatal nurses typically end up working in a neonatal intensive care unit NICU of a clinic, hospital or medical center. For example, if you work in a Level II NICU in a community hospital, your infant patients will likely require help with breathing, feeding or with medications. In some instances, you may be required to provide home care or follow-up visits to high-risk patients. Because of the fragile systems and round-the-clock needs your patients in the NICU will require, most neonatal nurses can expect to work 8 to hour shifts.
Weekends and holidays will also factor into your work schedule. A typical day will have you providing highly specialized care for premature babies and very ill newborns. They may require anything from respiratory care to being fed through an IV to ensure their bodies become strong enough to sustain themselves and increase their chances of survival. On any given day, you may also be tasked with:.
The field of nursing overall is growing rapidly. Only experienced, qualified nurses are trusted to care for fragile newborns. For example, Herzing University offers:.
Please click through to each program for details. The test focuses on your knowledge of four specific areas of nursing, including:.
That means a minimum of two years experience required can vary by employer working at a hospital or clinic with a NICU providing care to acutely and critically ill neonatal patients and their families. According to NANN , you may choose to focus your attention on becoming a:. After gaining experience in the NICU, most neonatal nurses choose to take one or more certification exams to validate their knowledge and advance their careers. A number of tests specific to neonatal nursing are offered by several certification organizations, and many enable you to prove your expertise in a specific area of neonatal nursing.
For example, nursinglicensure. Becoming a neonatal nurse is not for the faint of heart, but if you possess the knowledge, compassion and critical thinking skills to care for critically ill infants, it can be an extremely rewarding career choice. Passing this exam allows graduates to apply to the State Board of Nursing for licensure as a registered nurse.
Some employers may prefer hiring graduates from a programmatically accredited program.
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