Neonatal job in the UK

Specialties NICU

Published

Hi everyone,

I live in the UK and I'm a 3rd year student nurse and I'm almost qualified, I have applied for a staff nurse position on a neonatal unit, and if I'm lucky enough to get it I hope to continue on to do a post graduate qualification in neonatal nursing while working in this area, Ive always wanted to work in this area and actually applied to do my midwifery training before my nurse training, unfortunatly there were not enough places,

any advice would be appriciated

Specializes in NICU.

i take it you're quoting the BAPM guideline that states NICU's should be staffed by RN (child branch)? Every nurse who starts their career on a NICU has a very steep learning curve what ever branch they are qualified in. It's the support and education that helps and unfortunately not every NICU provides that

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Yes. I do think everyone would have a learning curve, but someone who did not have any placements or theory in paediatrics whatsoever (but particularly neonates) would have it a lot steeper. I still think working as a HCA on a neonatal unit would put the OP in good stead and also look brilliant on an application and in interview.

I once queried this with my own unit manager, as I had a friend who was a newly qualified adult branch trained nurse. She said she'd take her interest in neonates a lot more seriously if she could back it up with evidence that she'd tried to learn more about the specialty, particularly by trying to get bank HCA shifts in the special care side.

For what it's worth, only about a quarter of the nurses on my unit are child branch trained, most of which have been hired in the past five years. The majority (and more senior) nurses are adult branch trained or midwives who did a nursing conversion years ago and have gone on to do their neonatal course.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi MandaAnda,

I do realise that if I was child qualified or dual qualified I would have a better chance , but all the neonatal jobs i have looked at say either adult or child RN

I am going to ring the NICU at Dewsbury where I'm having my placement at the moment and ask if I can go on there for a few weeks (I'm on CCU for 11 more weeks)

I have got a job offer for Orthopedics at Dewsbury to start in September so I will have to take that and look out for jobs on NICU- this hospital trust do a transfer scheme after 6 months which may be possible??

I will definatly get on bank as a HCA and bank on NICU if possible.... or if not on Maternity (which would cover pre and post natal care of mother and baby)???

Thanks for the advice ;)

Fozzy- I agree that where ever you work the support and training needs to be there, as long as you are passionate about the area and willing to learn! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Out of the maternity wards (labour ward, antenatal and postnatal), postnatal would probably get you the best exposure to babies, although all would be good experience.

I think it's also a great idea to try to get in there on your current placement if you can arrange it with their neonatal unit and CCU. I think most placements are happy to facilitate things like that.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment