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Updated May 23, 2024
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- Duties and Responsibilities
- Work Settings
- How to Become
- Salary
- FAQ
Discover what neonatal and NICU nurses do, including their work environments, job requirements, and salary outlook.
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A neonatal nurse specializes in caring for newborn infants. Some neonatal nurses are responsible for healthy infants, while others, often known as NICU nurses, care for infants with medical complications. Some of the most common neonatal complications include infections, congenital disabilities, and prematurity.
Nurses who love pediatrics, excel in providing gentle care, and easily develop bonds with families could be great for this specialty. Learn more about neonatal nurse responsibilities, education requirements, and career trends.
How Long to Become
4 years
Degree Requirements
ADN or BSN
Average Annual Salary
$78,180
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What Does a Neonatal Nurse Do?
ADN or BSN required
Certification Optional
Neonatal nurses practice in hospitals that treat newborns. They collaborate with other members of the healthcare team to address patient complications. They also manage daily infant care and support families through frequent communication.
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Key Responsibilities
- Caring for the newborn, including through feedings and diaper changes
- Administering medications
- Monitoring and recording vital signs
- Provide education and emotional support to families
- Administering certain special treatments, such as tube feedings
- Bathe infants and change diapers
- Use medical equipment unique to each patient
Career Traits
- Detail orientation
- Patient advocacy
- Stress management
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Written and oral communication
Where Do Neonatal Nurses Work?
Neonatal nurses work on well-baby hospital units or NICUs (neonatal intensive care units). Well-baby units support healthy infants, while NICUs treat babies with health complications.
Patients on well-baby units often only require typical newborn care, while infants admitted to NICUs need more interventions. These work environments are divided into four levels. Level one is for well-baby units, while levels two through four address infants with issues increasing in severity.
Level II NICU
This level cares for infants born at 32 weeks gestation and above or full-term babies needing close observation. This level of care includes close monitoring of vital signs, weight, and fluid status. Level II NICU nurses administer IV fluids and medications.
Level III NICU
Level III NICU includes infants born before 32 weeks’ gestation weighing under 1,500 grams or those at any gestation considered critically ill. Common care at this level includes close observation, mastery of ventilators, and care of infants needing surgery.
Level IV NICU
This is the highest level of care for infants. Level IV NICU nurses care for newborns needing major surgery or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). These infants require procedures for congenital heart defects or cardiopulmonary failure.
How to Become a Neonatal Nurse
An associate degree in nursing (ADN) is the minimum requirement to become a neonatal nurse, but many employers require a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Certification, such as a CCRN (neonatal) credential, is often required. Some positions may require advanced practice RN (APRN) certification, such as a nurse practitioner specializing in neonatal nursing care. Neonatal nurses may choose to pursue graduate programs to become APRNs.
Master of science in nursing (MSN) degrees prepare nurses for certification as neonatal nurse practitioners, leading to a higher salary and more career options.
The steps involved in becoming a neonatal nurse include:
- Earn an ADN or BSN from an accredited college or university.
- Pass the NCLEX for RN licensure.
- Gain experience working with neonatal patients.
- Obtain certification or pursue an APRN designation, such as a neonatal nurse practitioner.
How Much Do Neonatal Nurses Make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that RN jobs will increase by 6% each year from 2022-2032. That’s faster than the national average for all occupations.
The median annual salary for all RNs is $86,070, reports the BLS. The average annual salary for neonatal nurses is about $78,000 of May 2024, according to Payscale. Individual salaries vary based on experience, facility, geographic location, and other factors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neonatal Nurses
It typically takes nurses 2-4 years to complete an accredited program and qualify for RN licensure. Some hospitals require prospective neonatal nurses to log at least one year of clinical experience before entering this specialty. RNs need two or more years of neonatal nurse experience to receive CCRN (Neonatal) certification.
The perceived difficulty of neonatal nursing depends on the individual’s unique perspective. Some factors include facility, workplace, coping mechanisms, work schedule, and experience level.
Not quite. All NICU nurses are neonatal nurses, but not all neonatal nurses are NICU nurses. Some neonatal nurses work with well babies, while NICU nurses work with babies born with complications.
Neonatal nurses cannot prescribe medication unless they are APRNs, such as neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs). Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications under the supervision of a medical doctor in most states.
Neonatal nurses feed, bathe, change, and weigh high-risk infants. They administer medications and assess oxygen levels, vital signs, and other assessments, such as measuring fluid intake. Neonatal nurses may administer and monitor IV fluids and blood products depending on the care plan. NICU nurses often attend high-risk deliveries and respond to neonatal emergencies in labor and delivery units.
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Page last reviewed on May 15, 2024
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