Among these are compassion and emotional stability, which allow them to be empathetic to those in their care while maintaining their poise in stressful situations. Parents who have a child in the NICU are at higher risk for anxiety disorders. NICU: PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. After graduation, they take the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed. There is no room for misunderstandings when a child’s health is in the balance. None of that matters when those precious lives are in your hands. Either way, spotting them is important. She must know how to feed an infant through a nasal or abdominal feeding tube. All neonatal nurses must meet all the requirements to become a registered nurse and acquire at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and certification from the State Board of Nursing. NICU nurses are entrusted with the care of the littlest and most vulnerable members of our community, so it’s crucial that their nursing skills are on point. This is particularly necessary in a critical care situation such as a NICU. National Patient Safety Goals/Core Measures. This information is vital to the baby’s well-being, especially after discharge, so communication should be gentle yet crystal clear. Physical stamina is necessary for long hours, with much of a shift spent standing and walking. Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. You’re always doing several things at once, and your to-do list can change in a heartbeat (literally). Candidates must already have their RN or APRN license, be in good standing with the state board of nursing, and complete one of two required options for clinical practice hours: What do neonatal nurses do? U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses, The Nurse Network: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Skills Checklist, The National Certification Corporation: Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. Interpersonal skills: As part of the health care team, NICU nurses are also responsible for coordinating all the medical procedures and treatments given to the patients. Among these are compassion and emotional stability, which allow them to be empathetic to those in their care while maintaining their poise in stressful situations. KEY TO COMPETENCY LEVELS 0 – No Experience 1 – Minimal experience, need review and supervision, have performed at least once 2 – Comfortable performing with resource available 3 – Competent to perform independently and safely 4 – Expert, able to act as resource to others 0 1 2 3 4 A baby with lung problems may have tracheostomy -- a surgical procedure in which a tube placed in a hole in the neck allows him to breathe. Because babies can’t simply speak up and say what feels funny or what they need, perception is key. Optimism can help worried parents lower their blood pressure, increase circulation and boost their energy. Detail orientation is another important characteristic, and organizational skills help ensure infants get proper care in a timely fashion. Infants have specific developmental stages and differences in physique compared to adults and children. The way your tiny patients respond to stimuli, changes in their respiration rates, minute fluctuations in body temperature — all of these things could be early indications of serious problems or harbingers for better days ahead. Being able to navigate emotional situations while still completing the tasks at hand is just as valuable. She also needs the technical skills and manual dexterity to handle small intravenous lines or infant ventilators, or draw blood from a tiny vein. Her task is made more difficult because she cannot verbally communicate with the baby. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Clearly in the nursing profession, knowledge and understanding of medical equipment is key. All registered nurses need certain skills or personal qualities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In most professions, verbal communication is a priority, and it’s a must-have item on this list of nursing skills, too. ER Productions Limited/DigitalVision/GettyImages. The hours are long, emotions run high and high levels of stress are the rule rather than the exception. 1 = No Experience. Some babies may be sick enough that their kidneys fail, and the neonatal nurse must know how to manage an infant who needs dialysis. While not technically a nursing skill, physical endurance matters when you’re pulling 12-hour shifts in one of the most demanding departments in the hospital. Neonatal nurses who provide hope, positivity and even the occasional moment of levity as part of their cache of nursing skills give caregivers a respite — however brief — from the rigors of a hospital setting. 3 = Moderate Experience. Not every patient makes it, and in those situations, it’s imperative that you remain calm, cope as best you can and return to work the next day ready to help those patients for whom you can still make a difference. For that reason alone, attention to detail is considered a fundamental nursing skill no member of the NICU team should be without. Neonatal nurses need to be able to talk with their patients’ families, updating them on status changes, answering questions and coaching the parents on feeding and changing techniques. Opening up the lines of communication also paves the way for parents to share history and concerns that could impact outcomes. Most, if not all, positions also require certification in neonatal resuscitation in addition to the neonatal critical care certification discussed below. You don’t need to be a marathon runner to work in the NICU, but stamina helps. All the nursing skills, education, technological advances, hope and miracles in the world won’t completely eliminate losses. All neonatal nurses must meet all the requirements to become a registered nurse... 2. In the neonatal intensive care nurse resume sample, the list includes certification levels as well as technical skills. the neonatal nurse must be competent to manage all of these situations. The job outlook for nursing professionals of all types … Neonatal nurses, like all RNs, have three choices for their basic education. Highlight these hard skills on your nursing resume to show your experience and capacity to fill the role. They assist physicians during treatments and communicate regularly with other members of the team during the entire shift. 2 = Little Experience. Part of the clinical rotation includes time in nurseries and may include time in the NICU, but most neonatal nurses learn their skills after graduation, by reading, attending seminars or on-the-job training. There’s no one-task-at-a-time rule in the NICU. A nurse must be actively practicing in the specialty and have at least 2,000 hours of experience in the field. For example, a neonatal nurse is dealing with a very small patient who can easily be harmed by too much medication. Advanced education and RN licensure. Anyone hoping to become a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) will need to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, which is often offered as part of a two-year Advanced Practice Neonatal Nursing (APNN) program. Expand the breadth of your nursing skills by training yourself to notice even the tiniest details. All registered nurses need certain skills or personal qualities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Neonatal nurses often have regular contact with parents … Being able to think on your feet and tackle multiple issues simultaneously is the hallmark of a great nurse. These registered nurses follow one of three educational paths up to the point of licensure and then learn their specialty through seminars, classes or on-the-job training. The nurse must know how to use equipment such as intravenous controllers and pumps, incubators, ventilators and transfusion equipment. Don’t get long-winded, however. 10 Skills Neonatal Nurses Need to Succeed 1. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College. Your feet may ache from walking the floors, your neck may get stiff from bending over the one-pound 24-week-old baby tucked in her incubator and your stomach may be screaming for sustenance because an emergency forced you to skip your snack break. Pretty much everything other nurses do and then some, including: Some estimates put the risk of patient misidentification in the NICU as high as 70 percent, causing errors ranging from switched laboratory specimens to maladministered drugs. 2. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. Strong Communication Skills are Essential. A neonatal nurse may provide basic supportive care or technically complex intensive care in a critical care unit for babies called a NICU. They may complete a two-year associate degree program, a two- or three-year nursing diploma or a four-year bachelor’s degree. Neonatal nurses have the option to become certified, although it is not required for practice. Neonatal nurses should have some additional skills that are specific to their practice.
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