Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses care for newborn babies who are delivered pre-term (neonates) or at-term newborns who experience complications at the time of birth. Every year in the United States more than 5,500 babies are born weighing less than one pound. Twenty years ago most of the babies in the NICU would not have made it through the first week of life. Today, thanks to advancements in technology, these tiny pre-term babies can survive and grow up to be normal, healthy kids.
This is a highly technical and challenging area of nursing. It is also one of great reward since NICU nurses get to see the baby gain weight and develop until eventually the child can be discharged to home. NICU nurses not only care for the tiniest of infants, but they provide care, support, and education to the infant’s parents as well.
The NICU nurse needs highly specialized skills in the assessment and care of neonates and sick infants. Newborns in NICU usually suffer from multiple complications including pulmonary, neurological and cardiac deficits and generally require a range of medical, technological, and surgical interventions. Obtaining a position in the NICU can be very competitive and generally most hospitals look to fill vacant positions with nurses who already have other types of nursing work experience. Nurses making a transition to NICU nursing will be expected to successfully complete additional education and training, which is usually offered by the employer.
The NICU nurse works primarily in hospital-based neonatal intensive care units next to respiratory therapists, neonatologists, and advanced practice nurses (clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners). A nurse interested in functioning as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner in this setting will need to obtain a master’s degree in nursing and additional certification.
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