Anyone Know Anything About Neonatal Nursing??

I am a former Neonatal Respiratory Therapist. When you finish school will you have a Bachelors degree in nursing? If you will have a degree you do not need any more schooling after you graduate to work in the NICU. You would just go and apply at your local hospitals and tell them you want to work in the NICU. If you are hired then you will train in that unit. Also, if you want to take care of healthy babies after they are born that is called a postpartum nurse.

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Good luck,
Lisa

I was a former labor and deliver nurse and loved it. Nursing is a big field right now that alot of people are going into because of the last couple of years economy. If your going into nursing make sure and get your bachelor's degree, it will get you further.

Here's the deal...if you want to take care of happy, cherub, little babies go into labor and delivery or even post-partum care. If you're wanting to take care of pre-term or term babies that come out with problems then go to NICU. Both of these areas will give you your training once you're hired. Which is how any area does. A nursing degree covers everything and then you do "on the job training." As your going through nursing school you do clinicals in all areas of a hospital but it's only a short time so you only touch base on it and that's it.

I would recommend trying to get into one of those areas as a "student nurse" and work there as your going through school because these are areas that most hospitals only hired nurses with experience. Working there while going to school will give you that experience, obviously not true nursing experience but it gets you onto the unit. Goodluck

If you are doing a 4 year program you ususally have a senior practicum. Where you can "try out" the area you feel you have passion for. I'm not really sure of the steps to get in but I know you have to apply and usually NICU's will only take one student. It kind of gives you an "in" when you go to apply for the job after you graduate. The staff will already know you.
And as the previous poster mentioned if it's health, big snuggly babies you are looking for NICU is not the place. It could be months before the babies in NICU can even stand to be touched more than an quick diaper change.
NICU is one of the most rewarding areas in nursing that I have experienced. To watch a baby go from just barely more than a fetus, unable to sustain life on their own or not even being able to open their eyes, to a happy, mostly healthy chubby baby is amazing.
Good luck to you!!

When you graduate you will technically be qualified to work in an ICU - but usually you need some experience elsewhere before you get hired. I've been a NICU nurse for 10 years. A good place to start may be looking for a job in post partum/healthy newborn nursery or a pedi med/surg floor, and get comfortable with your basic skills before entering such a specialized/skilled area. Another good suggestion is to try and get a job as a nurse's aide or patient care assistant in one of these areas. Many hospitals are willing to hire nursing students into ICUs - and not necessarily nurses aides. The NICU I work in now - I worked there as a nursing student for three years before I graduated so it made getting my foot in the door a lot easier. Good luck.

As others have suggested get your bachelors degree in nursing. This gives you more options down the line. When I graduated from nursing school I was sure I would never go back to school. I went back for my masters and then post graduate work to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. I started in the NICU as a new grad RN.
My advice is get your bachelors. Job opportunities for new grads change from time to time, so it's hard to predict how it will be when you finish school. To improve your chances consider getting a job as a non nurse in the NICU. I know of several nurses who worked as a unit secretary during nursing school and were able to get jobs as an RN after graduation. Be a good worker, reliable, professional, etc. They won't want to hire you as an RN, if there as significant problems with your work.
During nursing school you will have different clinical rotations. This helps you decide what you want to do. I went to nursing school assuming I would work with adult ER or ICU. Found out I didn't want to work with adult patients. So keep your mind open. Nursing has lots of options. My senior year we could do clinical in an area of interest. This is an opportunity to show that hospital how you might be as an employee. Once you graduate the hospital will train you for the area you are hired for. Many new grads end up in areas that are not their first choice. Once you
are hired and your work is good, it's possible to transfer to the area you really want. Good Luck!