Requirements for Neonatal Nursing

It is no secret that it takes a special person to become a nurse. It takes an even greater person to specialize in the care of newborn babies, especially those who are premature and are suffering from mild to severe illnesses or conditions. Before being considered for a position as a neonatal nurse, there are some requirements you need to meet. It is important to know what these requirements are before choosing this as your area of expertise.

Significance

• Neonatal nurses play a pivotal role in the lives of both the newborn and his family. They are RNs (registered nurses) who choose to specialize in the care of newborns, most often in the intensive care setting. Their job can be emotionally, physically and professionally demanding, as they are not only required to have specific medical knowledge, but a kind heart and compassion as well.

Function

• The term neonatal is a general term given for the first twenty-eight days of life. While a neonatal nurse can work in a nursery caring for healthy newborns, otherwise known as Level I, this a rare due to the shortened hospital stay after a mother gives birth. Many neonatal nurses work in either a Level II or Level III nursery. In a Level II, the babies they care for may be premature or full term and suffering from an illness. These babies may require IV therapy, supplemental feedings or oxygen until they are mature enough to go home. A Level III nursery is considered the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), and provides a much more intense level of around the clock care for the newborn. These babies cannot be medically treated in either of the other levels because they require special high tech equipment to survive, such as an incubator and ventilator. In some cases they may need surgery. NICU's are most often found in either a large medical center or a children's hospital. Any neonatal nurse will be required to have a Neonatal Resuscitaion Certificate, and those who work in a NICU will be required to have a certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing and/or be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Educational Requirements

• To become a neonatal nurse, it is required that the nurse be a registered nurse. Courses for this type of licensure are available throughout the country at community colleges and accredited nursing schools. The length of time one spends in school to become an RN depends on the degree they wish to obtain. For an Associate's Degree, it is two years and for a Bachelor's Degree it is four. There is no specific program for those who wish to specialize in neonatal nursing, however some programs do offer it as an elective.

Job Requirements

• The employment requirements for a neonatal nurse will vary according to the facility to which they have applied. There are some who require one to three years of adult nursing experience before accepting a nurse's application to work as a neonatal nurse. There are then some who will accept entry level RN's who have passed their state boards and hold their license. Many variables affect these requirements such as the number of available positions in the neonatal nursing department, and whether or not the facility is experiencing a nursing shortage.

Considerations

• After having obtained two years of neonatal nursing experience in the NICU, as is recommended by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, you may want to consider attending graduate school to become a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. This will broaden your range of employment opportunity and offer you beneficial experience in your chosen field.