Neonatal Nursing Procedures

Neonatal nurses offer routine care such as bathing, feeding and diaper changing to newborn babies. They also offer more complex care, such as administering medication to unhealthy or premature infants. Neonatal nurses work mainly in hospital delivery rooms, baby nurseries and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Generally neonatal nurses have a degree in nursing as well as a state certification. As stated on payscale.com, NICU nurses generally earn a salary from $51,329 to $79,380, depending on education and employment.

Level I Procedures

• Level I neonatal nurse procedures involve offering basic newborn care. Healthy newborn babies make up this level, so procedures involve cleaning up the baby by bathing him, putting blankets or caps on him to keep him warm, feeding him and placing a clean diaper on him as needed. Also, involved in healthy newborn care is assisting a physician by collecting samples for tests required on a healthy newborn. After all of the basic care is administered, a neonatal nurse in Level 1 care makes sure the mother has the knowledge necessary to care for the newborn.

Level II Procedures

• A Level II neonatal nurse cares for newborns that are typically premature, born sick or have congenital defects. Procedures for caring for Level II babies involve intermediate care. It includes cleaning the baby after birth, placing her in an incubator, supplying oxygen and administering and additional care ordered by the physician. Procedures to stabilize the baby are followed such as monitoring breathing. In addition to these procedures, a neonatal nurse inserts intravenous (IV) therapy and cares for the newborn until she is ready to be released from the hospital.

Level III Procedures

• Procedures for caring for a newborn in a Level III setting is generally in the NICU which may be low birth weight, sick or premature babies. These procedures are more complex in nature, such as cleaning the baby, placing the baby in an incubator, on a ventilator, ensuring vital signs are at a safe level, drawing blood, monitoring the medical equipment and assisting with any surgeries required. Administering medication and nutrition though IV therapy are also a procedures in the NICU unit a neonatal nurse performs.