New Care for a New Life - Neonatal Nursing

Neonatal nursing is a specialty in nursing that allowsways to care for the special needs of their child and
nurses a chance to work with the most vulnerableteaching parents how to cope with a child born with
population of all - newborns. The term neonatal is usedspecial needs.
to describe the first 28 days of life. Nursing care duringThe other challenge is the patient themselves. Unlike
that period is critical to the life and healthyadults or even children in a health care setting - a new
development of a child. Neonatal care offers specialborn cannot indicate their needs or a crisis situation
challenges and rewards to the women and men whooccurring in the body. The nurse must use excellent
work in that profession.diagnostic skills to monitor and help this tender patient
Requirementsalong. Special techniques have been developed in the
Requirements vary from state to state, however, thecare and treatment of newborns that allow the nurse
general standard for neonatal nursing is that theto provide adequate medication and care to the
professional is a registered nurse with a 2 or 4 yearpatient as well as make sure the infant gets enough
college degree and has been specially certified by thetouch and stimulation which is required early in the life
National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Thiscycle.
certification is usually gained through continuingThe Setting
education classes and hospital experience. ManyNeonatal nurses most often work in a hospital setting
states also require a neonatal nurse to have one towith an infant ICU ward or other floor that handles
two years of experience in adult health care (such asnewborns. They can also find employment as a
a med/surg unit) and a year in pediatric nursing.private nurse to people who have a child with special
The Challengesneeds who require education and help to take their
Neonatal nurses work with all infants right after theychild into the home environment. Most hospices retain
are born. They provide standard care for healthythe services of at least one neonatal nurse to help
newborns but also must be trained to work with casesparents whose babies are going to die within a few
where the child is not healthy such as premature birthsmonths of birth. Other opportunities lie as contact
of children born with development difficulties. Thesenurses for OB/GYN offices to help the obstetrician in
children need constant surveillance, around the clockthe primary care and intervention during and after a
supervision and continuous ability to provide life savingbirth.
measures. Neonatal nurses don't only work with theNeonatal nursing is a challenging and rewarding
children but also must relate and work with the parentsprofession that offers opportunity and a chance to be
of the newborn - helping mothers learn appropriatethe primary care giver in a young forming life.