NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurses play an important role in the healthcare system especially when babies are born that need extra care. Whether the babies are premature or ill, Nicu nurses help take care of those babies. They also help monitor the babies’ oxygen and heart rate and they follow doctor directions for their special care.
A Nicu nurse typically has to get their associate degree in nursing and also need to take an NCLEX-RN exam. A Nicu nurse does require special skills, like understanding newborns physiology and complications or other medical issues when they are born. Nicu nurses also need good communication skills as it is needed for them to communicate with families who can be in distress or anxiety during certain situations.
There are different levels to being a Nicu nurse. Basic newborn care is when a registered nurse has professional experience to give postnatal care to healthy newborn babies. Some facilities/hospitals maintain an optimum level of stability for infants born at 35-37 weeks old. Registered nurses also work hard to preserve the stability of sick or premature infants until they are healthy enough to be transferred to another healthcare facility that can offer care for them when they are no longer sick or premature.
An advanced neonatal care nurse cares for babies that have trouble breathing, need feeding assistance, or special medication.
The salary is high in the state of Washington, which ranges from $128,000 to $136,000 a year. The hourly pay is from $ 60-65 or higher depending on the location, level entry, and experience.
Pros of this career include job stability, great teamwork support, and the shorter time required to be trained. Some cons of this career include the high emotional toll, high stress, and some difficulty dealing with families.
Sources:
