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I am a tenth-grader interested in learning more about NICU nursing. I just had a couple of questions: What is the overview of the job? What is the median salary? what is the work environment like? What school and training are needed? what skills are required? what are the pros and cons?

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Doc’s Answer

Brianna becoming a neonatal nurse license begins with education. You should earn a bachelor’s degree to make yourself more competitive. Other steps include passing the NCLEX-RN, applying for a license, and working in a hospital’s NICU. After you become licensed, you can use your education and training to qualify for a professional certification. Certification may result in a higher salary and more career paths.

STEP 1️⃣ EARN YOUR BSN
A bachelor’s in nursing features the education and hands-on training states require for licensing. Typical classes in a four-year program include human physiology, clinical pharmacology, and mental health nursing. You also take general education classes emphasizing transferable skills.

STEP 2️⃣ PASS THE NCLEX EXAM

STEP 3️⃣ OBTAIN YOUR RN LICENSE

STEP 4️⃣ WORK IN A NEONATAL SETTING
With your new license, you can now gain neonatal nursing experience by working in your hospital’s NICU. You can expect to spend 1-2 years in an entry-level role before pursuing certification.

Step 5️⃣ APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION

NICU SALARY
The national average salary for a NICU nurse is $125,000 per year, or $60 per hour. However, several factors can cause salaries to vary, including geographical location, level of experience, education, certifications, and the type of healthcare facility.
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Martha’s Answer

Hi Brianna - you have identified an important and potentially very satisfying role to explore. The links I have added below provide an overview of the job and the training needed. The Indeed.com link addresses salary as well. One of the things that is great about nursing is the opportunity to continue your training to gain more authority and increase your pay.

Note that there are different levels of care within the NICU, depending upon the health needs of the babies. The sicker they are, the more pressured and intense the work environment will be. Your pros and cons will likely differ from those of other people. For me, the pros include the importance of the work, being able to help others, working in a medical team, opportunities for advancement, and the job varying from day to day. The cons include having to work nights and weekends (especially earlier in your career) , dealing with sad outcomes. and potentially the paperwork aspects of the job.

Good luck!

Martha recommends the following next steps:

indeed.com - https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/nicu-nurse
NANN - https://nann.org/about/what-is-neonatal-nursing
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