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What training would I need to become a neonatal nurse?
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Jessica starting out as a neonatal nurse requires the completion of a general nursing program and a license as a registered nurse (RN). During their nursing education, students can take neonatal nursing courses. Then, after they are licensed, they can seek out nursing jobs in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). If RNs want to advance their careers, they can seek out a master's degree to become a neonatal nurse practitioner.
NEONATAL NURSE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Neonatal registered nurses (RNs) need to get a degree in nursing from an accredited registered nurse school. Some employers accept the completion of an RN diploma program or an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), but a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) gives candidates better chances at employment.
BACHELOR OF SECIENCE IN NURSING (BSN) INFORMATION
Compared to ASN programs, bachelor's degree programs often take longer to complete (about four years) and include general education courses in addition to nursing-specific courses. Some schools offer accelerated BSN programs for students who already have a bachelor's degree, or RN to BSN programs for those who are already registered nurses. When applying to nursing school, if you know you want to be a neonatal nurse, it's a good idea to choose a school that offers courses in that area. Once you are a registered nurse and get a job in a NICU, you will likely receive on-the-job training about caring for neonates.
• ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS – To enter a BSN program, applicants may have to take an exam that tests their knowledge of grammar, math, reading comprehension, biology, anatomy, and more. Schools may want a 3.0 GPA in high school or college. Some schools may ask for prerequisite courses in biology or math. Applicants will usually need to provide a personal statement, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• BSN CURRICULUM – Programs cover various areas of nursing, like pediatric nursing, nursing for older adults, psychiatry, pharmacology, maternity and women's health nursing, and more. Other courses will likely cover healthcare ethics, nutrition, and nursing leadership. These degrees also include science and math classes like anatomy and physiology, statistics, microbiology, and chemistry, and include hands-on clinical practice.
• LICENSING REQUIREMENTS – All people who are seeking to become RNs must get licensed by the National Certification Licensing Exam for RNs (NCELX-RN). The NCLEX-RN covers areas including basic care and comfort, infection control, pharmacological therapies, and more. Within these subject areas, the exam focuses on other fundamentals of nursing such as nursing processes (providing care to patients), creating an atmosphere of caring and compassion, and communication and documentation. The exam requires knowledge of social, biological, and physical sciences.
• CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS – Certification as a neonatal nurse isn't mandatory, but some employers may prefer it. However, you can't get certified as a neonatal nurse until after you have experience working in a NICU. Two certifications, One exam is required to get your initial certification and the second is a continuing education certification to keep it.
1.) RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC): This certification requires 24 months and 2,000 hours of experience. The exams covers assessing and managing pathophysiological states (like cardiology, respiratory, or gastrointestinal), general physical assessment, resuscitation, nutrition and feeding, and more.
2.) American Association of Critical Care Nurses CCRN (Neonatal) certification: This certification requires 24 months and 1,750 hours of experience. The exam tests clinical knowledge of various body systems in babies.
NEONATAL REGISTERED NURSE SALARY AND JOB OUTLOOK
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that registered nurses in all specialties made a median annual wage of $74,000 in June 2020. According to PayScale, most neonatal registered nurses earned annual salaries of $58,000 to $99,000. The BLS predicts a much faster than average job growth rate of 12% for the overall nursing profession from 2018-2028. With strong job growth rate expected for all registered nurses, those who complete their associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and obtain their state nursing license will be ready to compete for jobs in the nursing field. Commonly employed in hospitals, neonatal registered nurses work with newborns younger than 28 days who often require special care. They may care for a spectrum of infants from healthy babies and mothers to infants in intensive care units. Neonatal nurses are one of a newborn's primary sources of care. A neonatal nurse can work in one of three levels of hospital nurseries.
• Level I – Is typically dedicated to healthy newborns, but because hospital stays have shortened for mother and child, they are becoming rare.
• Level II – Is designed for infants requiring special or intermediate care. Often premature babies who need more time to mature or other infants who require supplemental oxygen or a special diet are placed in Level II nurseries.
• Level III – Infants requiring the highest level of care are typically admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These nurseries are more often found in large hospitals or specialized children's hospitals. Newborns may be admitted to intensive care units because they were born prematurely, underweight or sick.
Hope this was helpful Jessica, I know you had a lot of questions
Jessica just about any hospital would be willing to accommodate a request to job shadow. Call up a hospital that you know has a NICU, ask for the HR department. Explain to them what you want to do and they'll usually connect you with the nurse manager in charge of NICU and set you up. Good luck!! :)
Become a HOSA Member – Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) provides an opportunity for future health leaders to take advantage of professional and academic resources while still in high school. The group offers events, competitions, scholarships, and plenty of resources to help connect learners with the nursing world while still in high school.
Learn CPR/First Aid – First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills come in handy for a variety of professionals, including students who aspire to become nurses. Weekend training courses can help familiarize learners with basic skills and help boost college applications.
Stay Up To Date – American Journal of Nursing or Science Daily can help you to stay aware of current trends and issues in the field of nursing. Following these publications also provides insight into some of the challenges facing the profession in the aftermath of COVID-19.
NEONATAL NURSE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Neonatal registered nurses (RNs) need to get a degree in nursing from an accredited registered nurse school. Some employers accept the completion of an RN diploma program or an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), but a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) gives candidates better chances at employment.
BACHELOR OF SECIENCE IN NURSING (BSN) INFORMATION
Compared to ASN programs, bachelor's degree programs often take longer to complete (about four years) and include general education courses in addition to nursing-specific courses. Some schools offer accelerated BSN programs for students who already have a bachelor's degree, or RN to BSN programs for those who are already registered nurses. When applying to nursing school, if you know you want to be a neonatal nurse, it's a good idea to choose a school that offers courses in that area. Once you are a registered nurse and get a job in a NICU, you will likely receive on-the-job training about caring for neonates.
• ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS – To enter a BSN program, applicants may have to take an exam that tests their knowledge of grammar, math, reading comprehension, biology, anatomy, and more. Schools may want a 3.0 GPA in high school or college. Some schools may ask for prerequisite courses in biology or math. Applicants will usually need to provide a personal statement, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• BSN CURRICULUM – Programs cover various areas of nursing, like pediatric nursing, nursing for older adults, psychiatry, pharmacology, maternity and women's health nursing, and more. Other courses will likely cover healthcare ethics, nutrition, and nursing leadership. These degrees also include science and math classes like anatomy and physiology, statistics, microbiology, and chemistry, and include hands-on clinical practice.
• LICENSING REQUIREMENTS – All people who are seeking to become RNs must get licensed by the National Certification Licensing Exam for RNs (NCELX-RN). The NCLEX-RN covers areas including basic care and comfort, infection control, pharmacological therapies, and more. Within these subject areas, the exam focuses on other fundamentals of nursing such as nursing processes (providing care to patients), creating an atmosphere of caring and compassion, and communication and documentation. The exam requires knowledge of social, biological, and physical sciences.
• CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS – Certification as a neonatal nurse isn't mandatory, but some employers may prefer it. However, you can't get certified as a neonatal nurse until after you have experience working in a NICU. Two certifications, One exam is required to get your initial certification and the second is a continuing education certification to keep it.
1.) RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC): This certification requires 24 months and 2,000 hours of experience. The exams covers assessing and managing pathophysiological states (like cardiology, respiratory, or gastrointestinal), general physical assessment, resuscitation, nutrition and feeding, and more.
2.) American Association of Critical Care Nurses CCRN (Neonatal) certification: This certification requires 24 months and 1,750 hours of experience. The exam tests clinical knowledge of various body systems in babies.
NEONATAL REGISTERED NURSE SALARY AND JOB OUTLOOK
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that registered nurses in all specialties made a median annual wage of $74,000 in June 2020. According to PayScale, most neonatal registered nurses earned annual salaries of $58,000 to $99,000. The BLS predicts a much faster than average job growth rate of 12% for the overall nursing profession from 2018-2028. With strong job growth rate expected for all registered nurses, those who complete their associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and obtain their state nursing license will be ready to compete for jobs in the nursing field. Commonly employed in hospitals, neonatal registered nurses work with newborns younger than 28 days who often require special care. They may care for a spectrum of infants from healthy babies and mothers to infants in intensive care units. Neonatal nurses are one of a newborn's primary sources of care. A neonatal nurse can work in one of three levels of hospital nurseries.
• Level I – Is typically dedicated to healthy newborns, but because hospital stays have shortened for mother and child, they are becoming rare.
• Level II – Is designed for infants requiring special or intermediate care. Often premature babies who need more time to mature or other infants who require supplemental oxygen or a special diet are placed in Level II nurseries.
• Level III – Infants requiring the highest level of care are typically admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These nurseries are more often found in large hospitals or specialized children's hospitals. Newborns may be admitted to intensive care units because they were born prematurely, underweight or sick.
Hope this was helpful Jessica, I know you had a lot of questions
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
I started out in the neonatal ICU as a new grad and worked in the NICU for 8 years. I graduated with my BSN and was lucky to land a new grad internship in a major hospital system. You will want to shoot for a BSN degree. Research nursing programs to determine what prerequisites you will need to take to apply to nursing school. Every nursing school usually has classes that focuses on pediatrics and maternal-child nursing. You should do a rotation through these units with your nursing preceptor. While in nursing school, try your best to land a rotation in the NICU/PICU/pediatrics unit that will give you some exposure and help you decide if that is the route you want to take.
I also suggest researching hospitals in your area or where you plan to live after nursing school to determine which hospitals provide a NICU unit and what level of care is offered (NICU I/II/III/IV). Check these units for new graduate nursing programs that offer internships and training. Take volunteer opportunities at hospitals you are interested in working at for networking that can later help you land a job. Look for any opportunities or free classes that will help you stand out and show your passion for neonatal and pediatric nursing. Good luck on your journey!
Research nursing school programs you are interested in
Take prerequisite classes that are required for entry into nursing school
Apply for a BSN program
Research hospital organizations that have NICU internships for new graduates
Volunteer and take classes that center around pediatrics and neonatal nursing
I started out in the neonatal ICU as a new grad and worked in the NICU for 8 years. I graduated with my BSN and was lucky to land a new grad internship in a major hospital system. You will want to shoot for a BSN degree. Research nursing programs to determine what prerequisites you will need to take to apply to nursing school. Every nursing school usually has classes that focuses on pediatrics and maternal-child nursing. You should do a rotation through these units with your nursing preceptor. While in nursing school, try your best to land a rotation in the NICU/PICU/pediatrics unit that will give you some exposure and help you decide if that is the route you want to take.
I also suggest researching hospitals in your area or where you plan to live after nursing school to determine which hospitals provide a NICU unit and what level of care is offered (NICU I/II/III/IV). Check these units for new graduate nursing programs that offer internships and training. Take volunteer opportunities at hospitals you are interested in working at for networking that can later help you land a job. Look for any opportunities or free classes that will help you stand out and show your passion for neonatal and pediatric nursing. Good luck on your journey!
Kimberly recommends the following next steps: