High School

In order to become a neonatal nurse, you must first train to be a registered nurse. To prepare for a career as a registered nurse, you should take high school mathematics and science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Health courses will also be helpful. English and speech courses should not be neglected because you must be able to communicate well with the parents and other loved ones of patients. Learning a foreign language will help you to communicate more effectively with people who do not speak English fluently.

Postsecondary Training

There is no special program for neonatal nursing in basic RN education; however, some nursing programs have an elective course in neonatal nursing. Entry-level requirements to become a neonatal nurse depend on the institution, its size, and the availability of nurses in that specialty and geographical region. Some institutions may require neonatal nurses to demonstrate their ability in administering medications, performing necessary math calculations, suctioning, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilator care, and other newborn care skills. Nurses who wish to focus on caring for premature babies or sick newborns may choose to attend graduate school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.

Certification

Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in general nursing, as well as advanced certificates for neonatal nurse practitioners. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Online and in-person continuing education opportunities are provided by professional associations (e.g., American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; Association of Womens Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Neonatal Nurses), unions, colleges and universities, and for-profit online learning platforms.

Certification or Licensing

Neonatal nurses who work in critical care may earn the CCRN (Neonatal) credential from the AACN Certification Corporation, a subsidiary of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Applicants must hold an unrestricted registered nurse license and take and pass an examination. They also must complete one of the following clinical practice hour requirement options:

• Two-Year Option: Practice as a registered nurse (RN) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill neonatal patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application
• Five-Year Option: Practice as an RN or APRN during the previous five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill neonatal patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application

The National Certification Corporation (https://www.nccwebsite.org/certification-exams) also provides a variety of certification credentials.

All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories require a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination and meet other requirements.

Neonatal nurses have experience in providing specialty care for very ill newborns. Their skills must be well honed and they must be knowledgeable about the latest neonatal technologies in order to manage the minute-to-minute changes in their tiny patients’ lives. They assist new mothers with feeding and hygiene routines and with transferring critical care issues from hospital to the home environment.

Neonatal nurses should like working with mothers, newborns, and families. This is a very intense nursing field, especially when caring for high-risk infants, so the neonatal nurse should be compassionate, patient, and able to handle stress and make decisions. The nurse should also be able to communicate well with other medical staff and the patients families. Families of an at-risk newborn are often frightened and very worried about their infant. Because of their fears, family members may be difficult to deal with, and the nurse must be able to communicate with the family and explain medical terminology and procedures to them so they understand what is being done for their baby and why.