NICU Nurse Job Description
NICU nurse takes care of newborn babies with life-threatening conditions and protects healthy immune systems of babies from the effects of the environment. This position is ideal to these who have strong passion and are fond of nursing newborns. The NICU nurse job description include tasks such as taking and monitoring babies’ temperature, feeding, changing the diapers, and giving medications, among others. Like other nurses, neonatal nurses must act quickly during emergencies, determining the best method to treat a specific condition.
Responsibilities
The NICU nurse job description often includes various tasks from providing primary care to a child, to performing nursing duties. NICU nurses take care of babies from the time of birth up to the 28th day. Three different levels of neonatal nursing exist. The first level handles all the responsibility of a healthy newborn. Next are the level two neonatal nurses, who are responsible for taking care of newborns with health problems. Lastly, the level three neonatal nursesare assigned with newborn babies with life-threatening conditions and require intensive care. Regardless of level, the main priorities of neonatal nurses are the newborn baby and the baby’s mother.
Besides taking care of the physical health of babies and their mothers, other tasks included in the NICU nurse job description involve providing mental and emotional support, updating parents about the baby’s condition, updating information of babies, and assisting doctors during surgeries.
Training and Education Requirements
A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, pass the examination, and become a registered nurse to qualify for the position. To acquire the title completely, one must have at least one-year working experience in the neonatal intensive care unit. These are very important requirements not just to become an NICU nurse, but also to handle life-threatening conditions well. Most neonatal nurses continue their education to excel in the field, while others take their masters in a more prominent nursing school to get better chances of employment.
Working Conditions
Like other types of nurses, NICU nurses spend most of their working hours in hospitals. Since taking care of a sick baby demands round-the-clock attention, neonatal nurses work in shifts. Overtime work is very common in this field, especially during emergencies and scheduled surgeries. This profession is very stressful and rewarding at the same time.
Certifications
Certifications are very important in this type of profession. Before being qualified to be an NICU nurse, a candidate must obtain several certifications. First, one must be a Registered Nurse by finishing a 2 – 4 year nursing course. One will be a Registered Nurse after taking and passing the licensure examination. Certifications like Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certification, Neonatal Resuscitation Certification and Advanced Practice Neonatal Nursing are very important to acquire the position as well as increasing the chances of getting higher pay rate.
Salary and Wages
The average salary of an NICU nurse ranges from $80,000 to $90,000 per year. However, these amounts may still change by various aspects like the size and the location of the medical institution. Certifications also play a huge part in the amount a neonatal nurse receives.