Introduction
As a neonatal nursery nurse, you’ll work with sick or premature newborns and their families on specialised neonatal units where they receive 24-hour care. 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.
Under guidance from registered nurses, neonatal nursery nurses take responsibility for the nursing care and daily living needs of babies from admission to discharge. In some units, this may also involve working in transitional care units and in the neonatal outreach team.
Day-to-day tasks include:
- Caring for a baby’s personal hygiene including bathing, nappy changing and oral hygiene
- Supporting parents to care for their baby’s personal care
- Planning feeding regimes and carrying out passing and feeding through oral and nasal gastric tubes, and monitoring temperature, heart rate (pulse), respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and weight
- Maintaining appropriate records and reporting any abnormal findings and concerns
- Maintaining a focus on family centred care
In addition, qualified nursery nurses may:
- Supervise newly qualified nurses and new band 2-4 staff
- Attend unit meetings
- Work with the multidisciplinary team within and outside the NHS
- Promote public health and parenting
- Assist with the running of the breastmilk bank
An important aspect of the role is to give advice, guidance and support to parents demonstrating all aspects of baby care to parents. This may include breastfeeding and milk feed preparation, bathing, temperature control, safety at home, travel safety, cot death prevention and basic life support.
How to become a neonatal nursing associate
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for nursery nurses. Employers expect a good level of literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. Employers may ask for a childcare qualification such as NVQ or BTEC. They usually expect some experience of childcare, which could be voluntary or paid, including experience within the family or babysitting. You will need to apply for the role directly with your chosen hospital or Trust and these will be advertised on the NHS Jobs website.
Progression opportunities
The two Networks within the South East each deliver hybrid preceptorship/foundation education programmes. These programmes give novice neonatal practitioners the foundations in neonatal care. You can find out more about our education programmes here.
Other forms of study are also available for nursery nurses when in employment to enable career progression by taking on additional roles and responsibilities. Some study has a focus on family centred care and developmental care such as Sensory Beginnings which aims to explore the innovative approaches and practical solutions of family-centred care that have been developed in neonatal services.
Alternatively, a nursery nurse can undertake training to become a nursing associate.
Contact:
For further information please get in touch stating which unit you would be interested in finding out more about:
For units in the Thames Valley and Wessex region: england.tv-w-neonatalnetwork@nhs.net
For units in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region: medwayft.kssneonatalodn@nhs.net
