Neonatal Nurse Continuing Education
Neonatal care, as known in specialized nurseries or intensive care, has been known since the 1960′s. Nowadays the US faces a shortage of staff working as neonatal nurses. Neonatal refers to the first 28 days of life.
All requirements for neonatal nurses are established by the institution which uses a list of practice skills to assess nurses’ abilities in using medications, math calculations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous lines, and other knowledge needed for direct patient care.
Neonatal nurses are required to possess the following skills:
- good interpersonal skills
- an interest in new-born babies
- an empathetic understanding for the parents and other family members
- a good understanding of the physiological and psychological needs of the new-born
- an ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team.
- the competence to work in a highly technical area
Continuing education requirements are mandated by the state or a certifying body. The state board of nursing sets the number of hours required during a 2-3 year period (depending on the time of renewal) to maintain the RN license. As a staff or an advanced practice nurse, an individual may hold national certification. This is an additional exam that demonstrates specialized knowledge in neonatal nursing.
Neonatal Intensive Care
Neonatal nurses work in neonatal intensive care units and take care of acutely ill neonates and premature infants. Besides, neonatal nurses work in mother-baby or newborn nurseries and take care of healthy newborns.
Entry level requirements for neonatal nurses vary. Some hospital or medical centers may require 1 year of adult health or medical surgical nursing while other units hire RNs after graduation from an accredited school or college of nursing who have passed a state board of nursing (NCLEX) exam for licensure. The type and length of nursing experience also varies from one institution to another, but many require no previous experience. It depends on whether positions are plentiful and if a scarcity of qualified nurses exists in that particular area of the country.
Usually it takes 2 or 4 years of university or college education to be prepared as an RN. It depends on whether students attend a bachelor’s- or associate-degree program. Neonatal nursing programs are part of continuing professional development. They contain a range of modules, which specialize in different aspects of neonatal nursing. After graduating, students have to take the state licensing exam to become an RN.
When an individual graduates and has obtained some experience as an RN in a neonatal intensive care unit (the National Association of Neonatal Nurses recommends 2 years), he/she might want to consider going to graduate school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
