The Neonatal Nursing Field
Neonatal Nursing is a nursing field where practitioners take care of sick and healthy neonates (newborn babies). Most neonatal nurses are found in Delivery Rooms and Maternal Child Units. They are also found in Nurseries, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and other places in and outside the hospital.
Roles of the Neonatal Nurses
Neonatal nurses still perform basic nursing roles such as direct care giving, medicating and documentation. They also act as counselors and advocates for the patient’s family. They may also be the ones to communicate for the physician. Aside from the basic nursing roles, neonatal nurses also perform a wide array of roles. Most of the time, the kind of role played by a neonatal nurse depends on the area that the nurse is assigned to.
Areas of Exposure
Advanced hospitals usually rank their nurseries depending on the severity of cases involved. Some hospitals that do not have the means to branch out into the different levels hold the babies in one area. They just separate the babies into different sections according to the care they require.
The Different Nursery Levels Are As Follows:
- LEVEL I – These are nurseries dedicated to healthy newborns. Nowadays, neonates spend very little time in Level I nurseries. Most babies are roomed with their mothers ASAP.
- LEVEL II – Neonates in these nurseries are usually premature babies or those requiring special care. Neonatal Nurses in the Level II nurseries often perform routine medication, maintenance of oxygen therapy and intravenous supplementation and medication.
- LEVEL II – These nurseries are referred to as NICUs. Babies in these areas are those requiring a higher level of care. Most of them require breathing assistance and have ventilators attached to them. Serious cases and post surgery neonates are also placed in NICUs.
Opportunity for Growth and Development
Neonatal Nurses have the option of specializing in their field. They can become Advance Practice Nurses (APNs). Becoming an APN is accomplished by completing a master’s degree in Nursing. Neonatal Nurses may also become clinical specialist. APNs and Clinical Specialists are usually offered Administrative positions. They may also work as educators and researchers.
Opportunities for Employment
Neonatal Nursing is a new field of nursing and it steadily growing. More and more hospitals are having facilities dedicated to the care of newborns. This means that nurses from all over the world are bound to find employment in the neonatal nursing field.
Nurses who want to go abroad to countries like the United States and the UK can also find worthwhile employment as Neonatal Nurses. Nurses with the right experience to back them will have the best chance of landing NICU jobs. Therefore, those wanting to work as a Neonatal Nurse abroad should first focus on gaining experience in a good Neonatal Nursing environment.
Published at: 11/05/2015
