Neonatal nurses work with some of the tiniest and most fragile patients in the hospital. As a result, they need specific education and training.
Keep reading to learn more about neonatal nursing and the requirements to become a neonatal nurse.
Educational Requirements for a Neonatal Nursing Career
The educational requirements necessary to become a neonatal nurse will depend on whether you want to be a registered nurse (RN) or a nurse practitioner.
However, all nurse practitioners must first become registered nurses.
We've broken down the educational requirements for you below.
Complete an Undergraduate Nursing Program
To become a registered nurse, you'll need to graduate from an undergraduate nursing program.
These programs are available as two-year associate programs or four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.
Some nurses may choose to earn their associate degree, obtain their RN license, and then go back to school to earn their bachelor's through an RN to BSN program.
Undergraduate nursing programs will include courses as well as clinical experience. They typically cover concepts such as:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Ethics and Medical Privacy
- Medical Terminology
- Nursing Skills
- Patient Care
- Psychology
You can find accredited nursing programs through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Complete a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Graduate Program
Those who want to become neonatal nurse practitioners will need to complete a graduate program.
These are offered as Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs.
Master's programs in nursing usually take two years to complete, while doctoral programs typically take three to five years.
Master's programs and most doctoral programs accept students with bachelor's degrees in nursing. However, some doctoral programs may require a master's.
The ACEN and CCNE also accredit nurse practitioner programs, and you can find accredited nurse practitioner programs through their websites.
Nursing Residency Programs
While not required, registered nurse residency programs are gaining popularity for nurses.
These programs typically last six to twelve months and offer a way for you to transition from scholar to practicing nurse.
These are usually paid programs with a medical center and offer a mix of coursework and clinical experience.
Some hospitals offer these programs to nurses with the stipulation that if a nurse completes the program, they will then work for the hospital for a minimum number of years.
Other Requirements for a Neonatal Nursing Career
Education isn't the only requirement to become a neonatal nurse. There are other requirements you'll need to fulfill as well.
Licensing Requirements
To work as both a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner, you'll need to hold a nursing license. Your state offers these.
While requirements can vary between states, most have the same general requirements. You'll need to graduate from an accredited nursing program and take the national certification exam.
For registered nurses, this is the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This is a computer-based, adaptive test with multiple-choice questions in four categories:
- Safe and Effective Care Environment
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Physiological Integrity
Nurse practitioners will need to take the neonatal nurse practitioner exam from the National Certification Corporation (NCC).
The NCC exam is also a computer-based, multiple-choice test. It primarily focuses on embryology, physiology, pathophysiology, and systems management in neonatal nursing.
Experience Requirements
In some cases, you may need to gain experience before working as a neonatal nurse.
For example, to work as a registered nurse in the NICU, you may need to have been working as a registered nurse in another department, like pediatrics, for a certain amount of time.
Additionally, some neonatal nurse practitioner programs require that you have experience working in the NICU or pediatrics before you can be accepted into the program.
What is a Neonatal Nurse?
A neonatal nurse is a nurse who works in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is where newborn babies go when they have health problems.
Infants may end up in the NICU if they are born prematurely, have a low birth weight, or have a severe birth defect. Babies may also end up in the NICU for post-birth conditions, like jaundice.
The job of a neonatal nurse is to care for these infants. This may include:
- Administering Treatment
- Comforting
- Feeding
- Monitoring Vitals
There are two types of prenatal nurses: registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), also called nurse practitioners.
They may be able to diagnose conditions, prescribe medication and treatment, and overall serve as the infant's primary care provider while the infant is in the NICU.
Become a Neonatal Nurse
To become a neonatal nurse, you'll need to complete the proper educational programs, pass the corresponding certification exams, and obtain a nursing license.
With the information above, you can be on your way to a career as a neonatal nurse today!
