The Evolution of Neonatal Nursing
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Neonatal Nursing Levels
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Neonatal nursing care has three levels. Level 1 is care provided to healthy newborns in the hospital nursery. Level 2 is intermediate care for premature or sick infants who may require oxygen or special feedings. Level 3 is the highest level of care and is reserved for infants who need ventilators or other specialized equipment not found in a Level 1 or 2 nursery.
Neonatal Education
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An RN with a two- or four-year nursing degree is eligible to work as a neonatal nurse. Some hospitals may require a nurse to spend one or two years in other areas of the hospital before being eligible to work as a neonatal nurse; others will hire recent nursing school graduates. Neonatal nurses can take graduate courses to become neonatal nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists.
Salary
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Neonatal nurses can expect to make between $30,000 and $40,000 annually as a new graduate in the Midwest as of 2010. Nurses on the East or West Coast tend to garner higher salaries. Salaries usually increase as a nurse gains more experience in the field.
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