Neonatal nurse
Is neonatal nursing the right career for me?
To become a neonatal nurse you will need to be a registered children’s nurse, adult nurse or midwife.
As a neonatal nurse you will need to be highly organised and flexible. You will be caring for babies with a range of health needs and their conditions can change very quickly so the ability to prioritise effectively is vital.
Neonatal nurses need to be:
- Highly observant
- Confident and able to take responsibility for determining the best course of action/treatment
- Good communicators and able to be empathetic and understanding of parents and other family members
- Interested and have a good understanding of the physiological and psychological needs of new-borns
- Competent to work in a highly technical area
What does a neonatal nurse do?
Neonatal nurses are highly trained in caring for infants who have specific problems that can be life threatening. They are a crucial part of the multidisciplinary team and ensure that appropriate treatment is given promptly by colleagues. They also undertake specialist procedures such as intravenous infusion, blood sampling and oxygen administration.
Neonatal nurses have an important role in supporting the parents of the baby at a time when they are very stressed and anxious. They also encourage parents to take an active role in the care of their baby.
Where do neonatal nurses work?
There are three categories of neonatal units in Wales: neonatal intensive care unit, local neonatal unit and special care unit. Babies are sometimes transferred from units which provide high dependency and special care for more specialised intensive care or surgical treatment in larger intensive care units.