Info Regarding Neonatal Nurses Education

By Enid Hinton


Nurse practitioners have an important job when it comes to health care services. There are numerous types, some of which work in a particular niche. This is true of a neonatal nurse, a professional specializing in caring for neonates or newborn babies. Neonatal nurses education might range based on location, but generally higher education is a necessity to work in this field on a professional level.

Generally speaking, these professionals provide critical care to neonates placed in the intensive care unit. These practitioners might also serve as post-discharge and primary care providers for post-NICU babies. Some also handle case management across various health care communities and settings, and act as experts for consultants working in other units, including pediatrics, emergency room, operating room and family practices.

There are different levels within the neonatal nursery that these professional might work. In the first level, the tasks involve taking care of healthy newborns. Level two offers special or intermediate care for ill or premature neonates. In this level, the newborns might require special therapy offered by staff or need more time before he or she can be safely discharged.

The NICU or neonatal intensive care unit is recognized as level three. This is where most newborns who cannot be treated anywhere else are held. Typically these babies need more care. In fact, many times they are reliant on high technology to stay alive in these first days of their lives. Many of them will need the aid of feeding or breathing tubes. More than half of the staff in the NICU are these nurse practitioners.

Level four is quite similar to level three in that the same skills are expected of those who in it. Usually this is reserved for the most critical and complex cases. Staff members involved in this include 24-hour neonatologists and surgeons. The health care professionals work hard to keep the infants alive and well. Often times level-four care involves intricate, live-saving surgeries.

Neonatal nurses play an integral role for newborns during their first 28 days of life, especially those who are ill or premature. In fact, the work they do is often vital. The term neonatal is derived from neo, meaning new, and natal, meaning origin or birth. Proper education is a must to take on this position.

Typically postsecondary education nursing programs are mandatory for eligibility. People must also receive a license through completion of various exams and programs. Details of the requirements for this position may vary based on region. Still, special education is needed in order to work in this practice professionally. Nurses have many responsibilities, such as issuing medications, performing tests and tracking vitals.

There are both bachelors and masters programs available to those looking to get into this line of work. Nurses with more experience and education may get more opportunities in this career and therefore increase their earnings. There are numerous open positions available across the globe and the need for health care professionals only grows by the day. Demand for these nurses is only expected to go up as thousands of babies are being born on a daily basis, some of which require special care and attention. People interested in this career should do research to see what all it entails.




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