Understanding The Neonatal Nurses Education

By Olivia Cross


Neonatal refers to the first 28 day of the newborns. During that time infants need a lot of care since they are very sensitive, vulnerable and some are born with a lot of problems for example we have some who are born pre-maturely, some have birth defects, general infections and some have cardiac and surgical problems. Since the mothers are not strong or either well equipped to handle these infants then there is a great need to employ the services of specialists with adequate knowledge. Neonatal nurses education seeks to equip nurses fully so that they can handle such cases competently and hence attain the ultimate aim and which is the reduction of infant mortality.

Recently, it can be noted that the level of technology especially in the field of medicine has greatly improved. With this advancement a lot has been accomplished for instance with the innovation of incubators, phototherapy lamps and the ventilators, infant mortality has been reduced greatly. But all of these cannot be achieved without the wonderful education instilled to the neonatal nurses who operate this machines as well as handling medication and diagnosis tests.

As a matter of fact this course is seen as a continued aspect in the profession of nursing. It entails a continuum of modules which draws across various parts of the study. Under normal circumstances people acquire this knowledge due to the existence of a partnership between the heath care trust and other educational institutions. But with development of internet some people are currently taking an online course on the same.

There are requirements that an individual is required to meet before he or she is allowed to enter this form of nursing. First, one should be a registered nurse with a four year bachelor of science in nursing degree; in addition one has to be certified in Neonatal Resuscitation. Also, most at times masters in a related course is required. Finally a working experience is a basic requirement mostly a two years experience is the most recommended.

Furthermore this education employs the skills of the concerned students. These skills enable the students to familiarize with the field adequately. For instance one should be able to work in all conditions, in addition the individual should generate interest on babies, also interpretative skills are elementary and finally the art of understanding the newborns physiological needs are very crucial to the development of the nurse involved.

The study maintains that there are the levels when infants are considered firstly we have the health new born nursery which is currently largely non-existing as mothers have a short stay in hospitals nowadays. In level two we have the intermediate care. Here, babies could be born prematurely or suffer some illness and hence they need some more time before discharge and finally the last level which makes use of the incubators and the ventilators which is referred as the intensive care unit, and basically admits all the neonates whose medical issue are past the first two levels.

When one is a practitioner in this field he or she can work in the insensitive care units. Here one is expected to take care of neonates and the premature infants. In addition one can work in newborn nurseries in which he or she is expected to take care of newborns.

To conclude it is evidently clear that this body of knowledge is new but just like the other forms of treatment it should be taken seriously. Actually given its sensitivity it should be regarded highly as it has facilitated the survival of newborns. In addition it has created job opportunities and hence it ought to be respected.




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