Nursing Management of Patient With Chicken Pox. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. During their nursing education, students can take neonatal nursing courses. The Job Description of a Telephone Triage Nurse, Difference Between Obstetric Nursing & Neonatal Nursing, The Special Training Required for Operating Room Nurses. These young patients are typically born prematurely or with some type of illness or developmental defect, which can sometimes lead to long stays in the NICU . Although one can achieve RN licensure with an associate's or bachelor's degree, the BSN can be better preparation for a neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal certification is available from the National Certification Corporation and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She might also learn to intubate, which means placing a small plastic tube into the baby’s windpipe to help him breathe or to deliver oxygen. APNs also learn to perform a lumbar puncture, a procedure in which a small needle is inserted into the baby’s spine to obtain samples of fluid to test for infection or measure the pressure in the spinal column. Nurses who are certified must recertify every five years by retaking the exam or completing continuing education relevant to the practice of neonatal intensive care nursing. Neonatal nurses care for premature or sick newborn babies in the NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Although the neonatal period is generally considered the first month of life, some of these babies may remain in the ICU for months. Neonatal nurses need confidence as well as skill. According to NANN, each year approximately 40,000 infants are born in the United States needing specialized care. The doctor of nursing practice, or DNP, is the most common credential for nurses who want to remain in clinical practice. However, it might take longer if there are many prerequisites the student must complete prior to entry. An APN in a NICU might place intravenous or central lines in an infant to allow fluid and medication to be administered. They often require the BSN.These residencies can be competitive in other ways. They can diagnose, treat and manage illness or injury, perform procedures and prescribe medications. What Schooling Is Required to Become a NICU Nurse?. An advanced practice nurse, or APN, must have a master’s degree in nursing. A NICU nurse is usually a registered nurse, though she might also be an advanced practice nurse such as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. They receive hands-on instruction in technical skills such as managing a ventilator or an intravenous line or how to provide support and care to an infant just after delivery. Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. Some premier hospitals offer residencies to new graduates. NICU Nurses complete additional training beyond what is required to be licensed as a … National Association of Neonatal Nurses: What Is Neonatal Nursing? NICUs may admit babies with relatively minor medical problems or critically ill infants who are so sick that one nurse is assigned to a single infant. A neonatal intensive care nurse is a licensed RN with an ADN, BSN, or advanced degree .They care for newborns who need round-the-clock attention. NICU nurses also learn emergency techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. What Is the Work Environment of a Baby Nurse? A neonatal nurse is a Registered Nurse that works in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and assesses, monitors, and cares for medically fragile newborns.In addition to caring for premature newborns, NICU nurses … NICU is an acronym for neonatal intensive care unit, and the nurses who work there are commonly called neonatal or NICU nurses. NICU is an acronym for neonatal intensive care unit, and the nurses who work there are commonly called neonatal or NICU nurses. A Neonatal Nurse is a Registered Nurse that works in the NICU and works under the supervision of physicians and Neonatal Nurse … Advanced practice nurses learn other skills that reflect their wider scope of practice. Neonatal nurses care for babies who are born prematurely, who have birth defects, infections or other medical or surgical problems. Then, after they are licensed, they can seek out nursing jobs in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some infants are very tiny and very fragile.Neonatal nursing units require experienced, adept nurses. Those interested in pursuing an online degree to become a neonatal intensive care unit nurse are also encouraged to pursue certification in Neonatal Critical Care Nursing, which requires a … Although certification is not required to become a NICU nurse, many institutions prefer to hire nurses who are certified. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College. In each of these cases, the NICU nurse begins her training with a basic nursing program at the associate, diploma or baccalaureate level. An associate degree in nursing usually takes two years. Schooling for a neonatal nurse begins by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. APNs perform many tasks that were once exclusive to physicians. The doctoral degree is also an option for advanced practice nurses. However, they utilize some new grads as well. A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurses and Neonatal Nurse Practitioners are similar roles, but the difference is in the education requirements and scope of practice. They learn how to suction secretions from an infant’s mouth and nose, insert a urinary catheter or manage a preemie on oxygen. What is a Neonatal Nurse? A baccalaureate degree takes four years. Advanced practice nurses have a wider scope of practice than RNs, who are educated up to the associate, diploma or baccalaureate level. NICUs may admit babies with relatively minor medical problems or critically ill infants who are so sick that one nurse … Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow: Neonatal Nurse, American Nurses Association: How to Become a Nurse, American Academy of Pediatrics: NICU Nursing Team, National Certification Corporation: Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, American Association of Critical Care Nurses: CCRN — Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses, How to Become a Wound Care Nurse Specialist.