Nurse

Introduction

Neonatal nursing is a subspecialty of nursing that works with newborn (neonate) infants born either premature or with conditions such as congenital birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems. The neonatal period is defined as the first month of life; however, some newborns born extremely premature or with other problems can require care for longer.

Neonatal nurses provide 24-hour care in intensive care, high dependency, or special care units. Some neonatal nurses work in the community, providing continuing care and support for babies and their families who have been recently discharged from hospital.

An important role to being a neonatal nurse is to encourage and support parents to care for their baby whilst on the neonatal unit.

Everyday tasks might include:

Preparing, checking and administering medications
Managing a baby’s fluids
Recording observations and documenting a baby’s care
Initiating appropriate resuscitation in an emergency
Focusing on family centred care

As a neonatal nurse you will be responsible for babies with varied health needs. You will need to be organised, flexible and be able to prioritise tasks. You will need to be observant with the ability to assess patients and their needs and take appropriate action. Being a nurse also requires empathy, compassion and understanding for the families of the babies that you will be caring for.

How to become a neonatal nurse

In order to begin working in neonatal services you will need to be a registered adult nurse, child nurse or midwife, or a registered nursing associate. You can explore the ways into these nursing roles below.

The most common route into nursing is to undertake a degree. This degree can be in adult nursing, child nursing or midwifery. Each university has its own entry requirements so you will need to check with your preferred university but in general you need:

At least five 9-4 (A-C) grade GCSEs (including English, Maths, and a science subject)
At least two (preferably three) A levels (some universities require A Level Biology)

Further information about studying nursing at university is available here.

With an NHS apprenticeship you can earn, learn and make a difference. The registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA) combines a mix of on-the-job training with classroom learning. The apprenticeship can last from two to four years depending on previous experience and learning.

You will need to apply for the role directly with your chosen hospital or Trust and apprenticeship roles will be advertised on the NHS Jobs website. Once you have started in your role you will train with your employer part-time. Your remaining working hours will be dedicated time for your learning.

Entry requirements vary depending on the employer and the level of apprenticeship. However, it is typical to need level 3 and maths and English qualifications to start an RNDA.

Further information about registered nurse degree apprenticeship is available here.

The nursing associate is a new role within the nursing team. You’ll work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care. A nursing associate is not a registered nurse, but with further training, it can be possible to ‘top up’ your training to become one.

Read more about the nursing associate role here.

Once you have become a registered nurse or nursing associate you can then apply for roles within neonatal services. Some neonatal units may ask for experience or knowledge of neonatal nursing issues e.g. handling bereavements or related areas, or support with breast feeding/feeding issues.

Ideally you will have undertaken a clinical placement or participated in a neonatal masterclass event within neonatal services as a student.

There are three levels of care: intensive care for the most seriously ill babies, high dependency for those who are not so critically ill but still need complex care and special care for less sick babies who are catching up on growth and development after a premature birth or are getting better after more complex care. It is important to understand the difference in the care they deliver before applying to ensure it’s right for you.

Progression opportunities

All neonatal units within the South East region offer a specific Network delivered Preceptorship/ Foundation Education Programme for all newly qualified staff or new to specialty staff. The programmes enable you to gain skills, knowledge and competency in the foundations of neonatal care. You can find out more about the Preceptorship/Foundation Education Programmes here.

Once you have completed the Preceptorship /Foundation Programme you will have a period for consolidation of learning in preparation for Qualified in Specialty (QIS) which is a role essential training programme for neonatal nurses. You will be funded through your unit as determined by both your and the unit training needs analysis. You can find out more about the Thames Valley and Wessex QIS Education Programme here. Units within Kent, Surrey and Sussex, will support nurses through a university run QIS course.

When you are a QIS nurse there is a range of quality roles that a neonatal nurse can move into.