My Options?

[chellej]

I can't think of anything I'd love to do more than work in a Maternity Ward caring for newborns/infants. I'm interested in working in a Hospital Nursery, or cleaning the newborns up right after birth. Do you have to be an RN to be this kind of nurse, or even just to work in the Maternity Ward at all? I just completed a nurse assistant class that included medical terminology and phlebotomy. I also wondered what other options I have besides just becoming a CNA. I was told that w/ the medical terminology I learned that I could get a job as a ward clerk, but do I need any sort of certification for that? With the education I've had, are there any other choices for me?

Thanks in advance! Hopefully I can get some answers. It's just been so frustrating because I can't seem to find anyone who can help me w/ my questions.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

There are very few hospitals anymore that have separate nurseries for healthy babies. If you wanted to attend deliveries, working in Labor and Delivery would be your best option. If you wanted to take care of healthy babies, you would probably need to work in Mother/Baby (also called Postpartum or Couplet Care). If you want to work with sick and/or premature babies, a special care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit would be what you are looking for. For any of those positions, most places you would need to be an RN.