Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal Nurse

1. What qualifications are needed for this job?

   • Neonatal nurses must also pass their state board of nursing exam, called the National Council Licensure Exam, or NCLEX.
   • All neonatal nurses must first qualify as registered nurses, which can be achieved through an associate's degree (takes two years at university) or a bachelor's degree (takes four years at university). Some hospitals accept applicants with an associate's degree while others only hire nurses with a bachelor's degree.

2. What roles and responsibilities are involved in this job?

   • Other basic skills are management of intravenous lines, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of specialized equipment such as ventilators and incubators.
   • Each hospital establishes practice skills for neonatal nurses, but most expect the nurse to be able perform math calculations. For example an infant often needs a fraction of the dose of medication an adult would require.
   • A neonatal nurse must be technically proficient with skills such as starting intravenous lines or using feeding tubes on very tiny infants.

3. what personal qualities, skills and attributes are important for someone to [possess in this profession?

   • highly organised
   • flexible
   • the competence to work in a highly technical area
   • the ability to prioritise effectively will be vital.
   • You'll also need to be highly observant
   • you'll need to be able to assess patients and take responsibility for determining the best course of action.
   • You’ll also need: an empathetic understanding for the parents and other family members
   • an interest in newborn babies
   • a good understanding of the physiological and psychological needs of the new-born
   • the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

4. what sort of people does your chosen profession work with? what support do they offer?

   • midwives
   • parents
   • Nurses
   • Doctors
   • nursery nurses
   • pharmacists
   • therapists
   • dietitians
   • ophthalmologists and auditory technicians
   • radiographers
   • students and trainees
   • psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors
   • community neonatal nurses/ discharge nurses
   • social workers/ family support workers
   • porters and cleaners
   • clerical staff
   • faith leaders/ chaplaincy team