A NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurse is someone who sub-specializes in treating newborns in a frailer state than they are already in.
Working in the NICU as a nurse means that you work with newborns who need attentive care because of their fragile state. This means that NICU nurses need to be well-versed in the anatomy and feagility of a newborn and the diseases/conditions that affect the neonatal state. Diseases/conditions affecting newborns and their specific procedures that treat these conditions may be accessed here.
NICU nurses do not work alone, however. With working on such fragile patients in an even frailer state, many people work with NICU nurses to bring back an infant’s quality of life. For example, neonatologists and neonatal nurses work with NICU nurses to support a newborn in the NICU. Subspecialists focus on a baby’s different body systems, such as neonatal cardiologists, who focus on the heart. There are also neonatal surgeons, who perform certain procedures for conditions linked above.
Pathway to Become
To become a NICU nurse you first need to be an RN (registered nurse) with a BSN (Bachelor’s Science of Nursing) or ADN (Associate’s Degree in Nursing). There is then a requirement of having a minimal amount of years in a neonatal nurse practitioner program certificate program. As for receiving your license as an RN, you need to pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). This can be completed at least one month after receiving your BSN or ADN. More information about the steps you need can be accessed here and/or here.
The job outlook for NICU nurses is relatively high with an expected demand growth of 12% from 2018 to 2028. In general, the job outlook for RNs is 6% from 2021 to 2031.
Personal Take
Being a NICU nurse of course comes with great responsibility as well as great joy and sorrow. As with any job in the healthcare field, a work-life balance is essential to keep yourself at your best. Those looking to work as a NICU nurse need to realize the triumph and sacrifice that comes with the job. Those working need to have the ability to work with others, show compassion and have emotional tolerance.
Resources I Used & Where to Learn More
- https://columbiasurgery.org/conditions-and-treatments/fetal-and-neonatal-surgery
- https://nann.org/about/what-is-neonatal-nursing
- https://www.registerednursing.org/specialty/nicu-nurse/
- https://www.childrensdayton.org/patients-visitors/services/newborn-intensive-care/conditions
- https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abq0236
- https://nursejournal.org/careers/neonatal-nurse/how-to-become/
- https://www.nurses.co.uk/blog/what-it-s-like-working-as-a-nicu-nurse-/
- https://blog.fusionmedstaff.com/the-job-outlook-for-nicu-nurses