Levels of Neonatal Nursing

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines levels of neonatal care based on the functional capacity of a particular nursing unit. Neonatal nursing levels reflect these AAP definitions.

Types

• Units caring for newborns in U.S. hospitals are described as Level I, Level II and Level III. There are subdivisions within Levels II and III.

Identification

• Nurses in a Level I hospital nursery care for healthy newborns and stable preemies. Level II nurses deal with premature babies with some degree of instability, or newborns who are moderately ill. Level III nurseries are known as neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), which provide care for critically ill or extremely high-risk neonates.

Features

• Level I nurses provide the most basic care, while NICU nurses provide the most complex. For example, babies in a Level I nursery breathe on their own; some Level II nurses care for babies on mechanical ventilators; and NICU nurses often care for ventilator-dependent newborns.

Considerations

• Many neonatal nurses hone their skills in Level I or II settings before applying for NICU positions.

Potential

• Experienced neonatal nurses may choose to earn a master's degree in nursing (MSN) to fill an advanced neonatal nursing practice role, such as a neonatal nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.