neonatal nursing

[Tanard]

I'm a freshman in college and I strongly want to become a neonatal nurse. Is a neonatal nurse the one who works in the nursery when the babies are born. I want to Know the requirements you have to have to do this and will it be a good profession by the year 2003

[JaxRN]

I'm a freshman in college and I strongly want to become a neonatal nurse. Is a neonatal nurse the one who works in the nursery when the babies are born. I want to Know the requirements you have to have to do this and will it be a good profession by the year 2003

If you're looking to work with just the babies that were just delivered you could work in a well newborn nursery. Otherwise there is the neonatal intensive care unit (level 2 or 3) which is where the sick babies go after delivery. I had graduated from school and worked on a postpartum/ well baby nursery unit for 2 years and now just started in a level 2 nursery. Some nurses do start out in the level 3's right out of school. It's a long orientation with lots of classes through the hospital but you learn so much.

[prmenrs, RN]

You should know that Newborn Nurseries are becoming few and far between. Most hospitals have normal babies stay w/their moms.

[BabyRN2Be]

:yeahthat: This is true in most areas. I'm in one of the "behind the times" states and we still have a nurse in the well baby nursery who does the initial assessments, first bath, etc. There are a few around here who want their baby in the nursery at all times (some babies it's required: drug babies and other DHS holds), but for the most part, mom wants the baby to "room in" with her. That is, have the baby in with her at all times.

Neonatal Intensive Care is for premature and otherwise sick babies who need far more care than can be provided in the well-baby nursery.

Hope this helps.

[Zebadiah]

Hi all, long time reader first time poster. :) I'm about to grad (11/06) from an ASN program, and due to my experience in EMS, I got hired in the NICU of a well respected hospital. In this area there is the labor and delivery department first, then the "mother baby" unit, which includes the nursery. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is where, as previously stated, babies who are very sick go to be cared for under special circumstances by specially trained RN's and neonatal intensivists (specializing MD's). The next level is for babies who are older than 1 day -- those who leave the hospital for ANY amount of time, go home, and return -- is the pediatrics department. That includes the PICU (pediatric ICU), as well.

I hope that helps... continue your education, and take advantage of EVERY clinical experience you get in nursing school, you'll have many opportunities to see different departments, and while learning, decide where you want to work! Feel free to ask any other questions, we're all here to help.

Zeb

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Wow, the original post is over 8 years old ..... I'm sure she's a nurse by now, hopefully she found something she likes doing!

[ThEwIfEyTyPe]

Im a senior in High school and i need information on neonatal nursing. Such as their requirement and their salarys to there devastating event that happen at work to skills and techniques that are vital or neccessary at work. I love working with babies and i hope to become a neonatal nurse someday and this project for school would really help me in gaining the knowledge i need to pass my senior year as well as put me a step forward into the nursing career. I would love to talk to any Neonatal nurses please pm me.

Thank You Very Much.

[prmenrs, RN]

I googled "neonatal nursing", and got this site: http://www.nursesource.org/neonatal.html

You should be able to get what you need here. Good luck.