| Neonatal nurses work in neonatal intensive care units | | | | are plentiful and if a scarcity of qualified nurses exists |
| and take care of acutely ill neonates and premature | | | | in that particular area of the country. |
| infants. Besides, neonatal nurses work in mother-baby | | | | Neonatal nurses courses contain a range of modules, |
| or newborn nurseries and take care of healthy | | | | which specialize in different aspects of neonatal |
| newborns. Entry level requirements for neonatal | | | | nursing. After graduating, students have to take the |
| nurses vary. | | | | state licensing exam to become an BSN. |
| Some hospital or medical centers may require 1 year | | | | When an individual graduates and has obtained some |
| of adult health or medical surgical nursing while other | | | | experience as an RN in a neonatal intensive care unit |
| units hire RNs after graduation from an accredited | | | | (the National Association of Neonatal Nurses |
| school or college of nursing who have passed a state | | | | recommends 2 years), he/she might want to |
| board of nursing (NCLEX) exam for licensure. | | | | consider going to graduate school to become a |
| Usually it takes 2 or 4 years of university or college | | | | neonatal nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. |
| education to be prepared as an RN. It depends on | | | | All requirements for neonatal nurses are established |
| whether students attend a bachelor's- or | | | | by the institution which uses a list of practice skills to |
| associate-degree program. Neonatal nursing programs | | | | assess nurses' abilities in using medications, math |
| are part of continuing professional development. The | | | | calculations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous |
| type and length of nursing experience also varies | | | | lines, and other knowledge needed for direct patient |
| from one institution to another, but many require no | | | | care. |
| previous experience. It depends on whether positions | | | | |