Neonatology Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse
A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who is specialized in taking care of infants born with serious medical problems such as premature disabilities, cardiac malfunctions, and other chronic infections. Newborns with such complications and are put in the neonatal intensive care unit section of the hospital where they receive specialized care. In the NICU, the nurses will provide care and closely monitor the health progress of the infant for days, months, or years until they are healthy enough to go home.
How to become a NICU Nurse
i. Become a Registered Nurse
To become a NICU nurse, one must first become a registered nurse by attaining either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Upon graduation, you must pass the NCLEX-RN certification exams to become a registered nurse.
ii. Gain Experience
The next and very important step is to gain work experience. Most hiring firms require the NICU nurses to have at least one or two years of work experience working with neonatal patients in areas such as pediatric nursing, maternal-child nursing, and labor and delivery nursing.
iii. Get Certified
Although not obligatory, seeking certification can prove very helpful in your career advancement and puts you at a higher qualification for higher-level positions. Most hiring organizations may show preference to individuals who are certified in critical care neonatal nursing via the American Association of Critical care CCRN and certification for neonatal intensive care nursing through the National Certification Corporation NCC. Other relevant certifications include Basic Life Support BLS, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support PALS.
Duties of a Neonatal intensive care unit nurse
Neonatal intensive care nurses work around the clock in collaboration with doctors and other health practitioners to provide critical care to ailing infants. They are directly responsible for monitoring the vitals and administering medications and nutrients to the newborn. They also work closely with the parents and family, offering appropriate support and educating them on how to care for their delicate infants when they are discharged to go home.
place of work
NICU nurses can work in various job settings. However, the most common place you will find NICU nurses include in both private and public hospitals, in neonatal intensive care units, and community health organizations. NICU nurses can also work for in-health services and medical evacuation and transport services. Regardless of the work location, the primary role is to provide health care and support to vulnerable infants.
