A neonatal nurse specializes in caring for newborns, particularly those with medical complications such as congenital disabilities or premature birth. Neonatal nursing requirements include a nursing degree, nursing license and Neonatal Resuscitation and Basic Cardiac Life Support certifications. There are opportunities for advancement, such as becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.
Childbirth is often a dangerous time for both newborns and mothers alike. Every year, more than 300,000 infants are admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where they receive specialized care for serious and life-threatening complications. If you’re passionate about caring for some of the most vulnerable patients, you might consider becoming a neonatal nurse.
No matter where your nursing career takes you, you can acquire the core nursing skills needed to succeed at Utica University. Our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program can prepare you to enter nursing with a non-nursing background.
When learning how to become a neonatal nurse, you’ll need to think about meeting the academic neonatal nursing requirements and then obtaining the necessary licensure and certifications. First, however, you may wish to dive deeper into what this nursing specialty involves.
What Does a Neonatal Nurse Do?
Neonatal registered nurses (RNs) specialize in caring for newborns, usually in their first month of life. Some neonatal RNs care for healthy infants, but most work in NICU units that care for infants with medical complications. For example, an infant may be treated in the NICU if they were born premature, have an infection, or have congenital disabilities.
NICU nurses have a variety of job responsibilities, including:
- Administering medications and other treatments, such as tube feedings
- Bathing infants and changing their diapers
- Developing and contributing to care plans
- Monitoring and recording vital signs
- Performing tests
- Providing family education and emotional support
Levels of Neonatal Care
Often, the type of neonatal care a neonatal RN will provide depends on the facility’s designation.
- Level I: This is the well-newborn nursery. These hospitals can care for healthy newborns, provide neonatal resuscitation when needed, and stabilize ill infants until they can be transferred to a NICU.
- Level II: This is the special care nursery. Level II facilities can provide all the care of a Level I facility, along with the care of moderately ill newborns, such as those born at 32 weeks gestation. They stabilize more critically ill newborns for transfer.
- Level III: Level III units are NICUs. They can provide a range of care services to infants with serious and life-threatening medical complications.
- Level IV: The regional NICU is the highest level of NICU. In addition to providing all the care of a Level III facility, these facilities also have pediatric surgical subspecialists on staff.
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How to Become a Neonatal Nurse
Now that you know more about neonatal care, you may be curious about the neonatal nursing requirements. It all starts with earning your nursing degree.
Meet the Education Requirements for Neonatal Nursing
The first step to pursuing this nursing specialty is earning your B.S. in Nursing. If you have already completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 65 non-nursing college credits, you may be eligible to apply to Utica University’s ABSN program. This program leverages your past education, allowing you to earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months.
You can expect to complete:
- Online coursework, which teaches nursing concepts
- In-person nursing skills and simulation labs, which guide you in developing essential nursing skills and handling patient care scenarios
- Clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities for practical clinical experience
Obtain Your Nursing License
After graduating from our ABSN program, you’ll be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This is the licensure exam you must pass to obtain your state-issued nursing license. In addition to passing the NCLEX, you must complete continuing education credits throughout your career to keep your nursing license active.
Gain Clinical Experience
The next step is to gain clinical experience in your specialty. You can begin applying for neonatal nurse positions. However, until you gain experience, you may find securing a position in a well-baby unit easier than a NICU unit.
If you have trouble landing a neonatal RN position after graduation, consider looking for a position in a related specialty, such as pediatrics, to gain some experience. Then, you can work toward a neonatal nursing career.
Neonatal Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t offer employment data specific to NICU nurses; however, the median annual salary for all types of RNs was $86,070 as of May 2023. The estimated job growth rate for all RNs was 6% from 2023 through 2033, faster than average, indicating that healthcare employers expect to hire about 197,200 new nurses during this period.
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FAQs About Neonatal Nurses
Some of the most common questions about this nursing specialty involve how long it takes to become an RN and which certifications are required.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Neonatal Nurse?
It varies. If you have no college experience, you’ll need to apply to a traditional B.S. in Nursing degree program, which takes four years of full-time study. If you qualify for our ABSN program at Utica University, you can graduate in as few as 16 months. This does not include the time needed to complete degree requirement courses if required.
Then, you’ll need to take and pass the NCLEX, which might take a couple of months after graduation. If you don’t pass it the first time, you can retake it, but this will add to the time it takes. Lastly, you’ll need to land a job in a neonatal unit, and the time required for this can be unpredictable.
What Certifications Are Required for Neonatal Nurses?
All you need to get started in this nursing specialty is a nursing degree, an active nursing license, a Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification, and a Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certification. All RNs are generally expected to be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support (BLS).
After you gain some clinical experience in a neonatal unit, you may wish to pursue additional professional certifications to enhance your career qualifications. One option is the Registered Nurse Certified in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC).
What Are the Advancement Opportunities for NICU Nurses?
Since NICU nurses have a high level of responsibility caring for critically ill, vulnerable newborns, some choose to pursue advanced education, which can lead to career advancement opportunities. You might choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree that offers a neonatal concentration.
Prepared with graduate-level education, you might pursue board certification to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
Achieve Your Dream Career With Help From Utica University
Utica University is an accredited school with a long-standing commitment to academic excellence. Our private, nonprofit university emphasizes professional integrity, community service, and compassionate care.
Our ABSN program offers two program sites, in Syracuse and Albany, New York, where you can complete your in-person learning components. With dedicated nursing instructors and Academic Success Coaches, we offer our ABSN students exceptional support.
Contact an admission representative today to learn how to take the next step toward your nursing career.
