Neonatal Nurse Job Description

---

Neonatal nurses work for the newborns and prematurely born babies and provide them necessary medical care. They generally provide care and assistance for the babies less than 28 days old which are in their most vulnerable and delicate stage of life. A neonatal nurse should have love and affection towards the babies and should handle them with care. As the babies are in their early stage of life, even healthy babies along with weak and ill babies require care. They fulfill all the basic necessities of the babies as well as assist the mothers in baby care. Some babies require intensive care if they are suffering from some kind of severe disease and illness while others might be suffering from some kind of mild reactions. A neonatal nurse has an option to choose the kind of babies he/she wants to work for. To know more about the neonatal nurse job description, read further.

Neonatal nurses have opportunities to work under the supervision of gynecologists and pediatricians. Once the mother gives birth to a baby, the baby is handled to the neonatal nurse and she/he takes complete care of the baby and makes sure that the baby does not suffer from any kind of complication post-birth. She/he may work at one of the four different levels in which a neonatal nurse is generally classified. Here are the four levels of neonatal nurse:

Level 1 - take care of healthy and normal infants
Level 2 - take care of premature and ill babies
Level 3 - treat severely ill babies
Level 4 - treat babies that are under intensive care

Duties and Responsibilities of Neonatal Nurse:

• Cleaning the babies and maintaining hygienic and favorable conditions around the babies
• Feeding the babies on time, changing their diapers and bedding, and giving the medications as prescribed by the doctors
• Monitoring the babies' health regularly and noting down their health status and taking them for periodic checkup to the doctors
• Recording the heath status report and handing it to the doctors and assisting the doctors in the treatment process
• In case of emergency situations, providing primary treatment to the babies and informing the doctors for further treatment
• Sterilizing and inserting IV's and changing them regularly, and adjusting the ventilators
• Conducting blood checkups and helping in blood transfusing and other critical treatments
• Maintaining a track of the number of babies admitted in particular ward and give necessary information to the doctors on request
• Training the new nurses and making sure that the hospital has all kinds of necessary equipments required in the treatment

Skills Required by Neonatal Nurse:

• Should be aware of the treatment procedures and the kind of treatment required for babies with different levels of illness
• Ability to maintain hygienic conditions in the wards
• Respond quickly in case of emergency condition and provide appropriate treatment
• Should be caring, loving and polite while handling the babies
• Willingness to work on shifts and for extended hours if required
• Ability to provide emotional and mental support to the family members of the babies

Educational Qualifications Required for Neonatal Nurse:

Neonatal nurses should be at least graduates in Nursing and should specialize in Neonatal Nursing. If you have a post graduate's degree in Nursing with specialization in Neonatal Nursing then you will definitely have better employment opportunities. Pursuing certifications courses and training is also essential to work as a licensed neonatal nurse. At least 1 year of experience working in an ICU as a neonatal nurse is essential requirement.

Salaries Offered to Neonatal Nurses:

Neonatal nurses are paid about $50,000 to $80,000 per year depending upon their experience and the level at which they are working.

This is one of the most challenging careers in nursing. For more help on neonatal nurse job description, you can contact us.