Becoming a neonatal nurse is a relatively new option for registered nurses, compared to other traditional nursing specialties with numerous openings available to those nurses hoping to provide care for newborn babies. This nursing specialty includes assisting chronically ill or premature infants or dealing with mothers and giving care for their healthy newborns.
You'll probably be wondering specifically what a neonatal nurse does? A neonatal nurse provides specialized as well as intensive care to infants twenty-eight days old or less. Neonatal nurses are employed in one of three types of nurseries:
The 1st type is Level I and cares for healthy babies. Because of shorter hospital stays and the fact almost all new mothers and their newborns now share a hospital room, Level I nurseries have pretty much gone away.
Premature newborns or even babies that are born with an illness will be put into a Level II nursery. In instances such as these, the infant needs special care and often special feedings; oxygen or intravenous fluids might be administered; a lengthier stay may be needed.
The intensive care for neonatal patients is called a Level III nursery. Babies needing a stay in these types of nurseries can sometimes be undersized or premature; they are often sickly. These units normally include ventilators, specialized equipment including incubators or surgical intervention. Normally you only find Level III nurseries in a children's hospital or much larger hospitals.
If you are interested in becoming a neonatal nurse, you will need to first put in the two to four years required to become a registered nurse. After graduation from a registered nursing program, there is a state licensing exam.
The specific specifications for a neonatal nurse are varied and based upon the hospital where you're pursing a position. You will find hospitals that want you to have experience working in an adult health nursing setting or in medical surgical for a year. However there are hospitals where you can get a job without any previous experience.
Even after you graduate from your nursing program, you are not quite done; you've got to take and complete the mandatory continuing education hours required by the state you want to work in. The exact number of hours of continuing education you have to complete during your licensing cycle-which is two to three years usually-is determined by your state board.
What starting salary can a new neonatal nurse expect?
The beginning salary for those nurses who are new to the field is $38,000 to 44,000 in the Midwest.
If you are living and work on either coast, you will probably start at $40,000.
In the southern regions of the U.S., the starting wages are closer to $30,000.
For people with no experience, the most you could expect to ever start at is $48,000.
Salaries for experienced nurses can be significantly greater.
If you decide to become a neonatal nurse, it can be truly rewarding. The wonder of helping healthy babies can not be understated; even so, there's certainly pleasure in the discharge of a mother and newborn which have conquered debilitating conditions.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.world-class-articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
