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What are the best qualities a neonatal nurse could have?
I feel like if you're a neonatal nurse, you're strong and hardworking. #neonatal #medicine
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Tatjana’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
a neonatal nurse must be smart and empathetic. Neonatal care is usually associated with intensive care treatments so you have to know your stuff. Neonatal nurses are more than other pediatric nurses confronted with stressful situations (death, sadness, fear, social problems, complicated family situations). You must be a team player even under stress.
Empathy is very important as you deal with the most precious good that parents have and after births parents are exceptionally emotional. It is also important to be generally accepting of peoples life choice (give-up babies for adoption, being old parents, arteficial insemination, gay couples, high number of children despite welfare situation, drug use by parents … an endless list). Your job is to communicate with all parents in an empathetic manner and bridge the gap between what parents can provide/do/prepare and the babies medical and or future needs.
I recommend volunteering in hospices even though there are mostly old people there but it will help to finetune your antennas for peoples needs, fears and worries, and it will help you deal with death. Or alternatively support a children initiative for children with disabilities. You might see a lot of babies with syndromal diseases or bodily malformations in the NICU. Knowing some children and families who live with these disabilities will make you a good communicator.
Good luck for you.
Best wishes from Berlin, Germany
a neonatal nurse must be smart and empathetic. Neonatal care is usually associated with intensive care treatments so you have to know your stuff. Neonatal nurses are more than other pediatric nurses confronted with stressful situations (death, sadness, fear, social problems, complicated family situations). You must be a team player even under stress.
Empathy is very important as you deal with the most precious good that parents have and after births parents are exceptionally emotional. It is also important to be generally accepting of peoples life choice (give-up babies for adoption, being old parents, arteficial insemination, gay couples, high number of children despite welfare situation, drug use by parents … an endless list). Your job is to communicate with all parents in an empathetic manner and bridge the gap between what parents can provide/do/prepare and the babies medical and or future needs.
I recommend volunteering in hospices even though there are mostly old people there but it will help to finetune your antennas for peoples needs, fears and worries, and it will help you deal with death. Or alternatively support a children initiative for children with disabilities. You might see a lot of babies with syndromal diseases or bodily malformations in the NICU. Knowing some children and families who live with these disabilities will make you a good communicator.
Good luck for you.
Best wishes from Berlin, Germany
Updated
Raymond’s Answer
I think a NICU nurse needs to be compassionate above all things. You are caring for the most fragile patients in the world, and even more importantly, you're caring for someone's newborn baby. You can't just focus on the numbers or the stats, you have to look at the developmental, emotional, psychosocial needs as well. It takes someone with a big heart to do it all!