BEING A
NEONATAL NURSE
#beaNeonatalNurse
“Families tell us we make
a difference that lasts a lifetime”
Are you considering being a neonatal nurse?
Here are some things that it may be helpful to know:
- Most hospitals that have a maternity services will have a neonatal unit
- Neonatal nurses care for babies who are born preterm or unwell and their families.
- Adult nurses, paediatric nurses or midwives can be neonatal nurses
- There is a recognised pathway to becoming a neonatal nurse that you will be supported with funding and time to undertake while in post.
- There are different ways of getting into neonatal nursing – Apprenticeship, Associate training
Not all neonatal units are the same, there are:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NICUs – care for babies needing all levels of care, intensive, high dependency and special care
- Local Neonatal Units LNUs, care for babies needing high dependency and special care or requiring short periods of intensive care.
- Special Care Baby Units, SCBUs, care for babies needing special care or short periods of high dependency transferring babies that require intensive care
Neonatal nurses have countless career opportunities such as:
- Infant Feeding, Developmental Care, Infection Prevention & Control, Bereavement/Palliative Care, Safeguarding, Governance, Community Outreach, Transport, Educator
- Research, Leadership, Management. Network Roles
- Enhanced and Advanced Practice, up to and including Nurse Consultant
There are currently neonatal nurse vacancies across the country for more information enter “Neonatal Nurse” into:
Watch one of our Executive Members, Colm Darbys views on
#beaneoNatalNurse
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