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What education is required to be a neonatal nurse?

What do neonatal nurses do besides caring for newborns?Are they allowed to do other types of things like treat sick patients or assist in births or surgeries? I have always wanted to be a neonatal nurse but, I’ve never really looked into it. Also what type of education is required? Can I do a nursing organ and get licensed to be one or do I have to go to a four year college? sorry if this question is dumb #Spring25

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Kazi’s Answer

Besides taking care of newborns, they do other related things like emergency care for sick or premature babies such as respiratory distress or sudden illness, advocating for babies' families, also working closely with neonatologists, even though they don’t assist in surgeries or birth.
Education requirements, here is the breakdown.
The associate in nursing, which is 2 years, and RN licensure, a bachelor’s in nursing BSN which is 4 years of college worth doing because it provides better and more comprehensive education opportunities such as master MSN/ Doctorate DNP. The specialized certificate (recommended) for neonatal nurse practitioners if you want to take that role and work as an NNP or nurse educator.

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Christine’s Answer

Yes neonatal nurses provide direct care to the newborn infants, you likely won't be providing direct care to the birthing mother unless there's some sort of very unusual circumstance. You will need to go to nursing school and then sit for testing to become an RN as mentioned. There is likely other specific training that is more related to the actual job itself, as Kazi mentioned too you'll be working with the other members of the healthcare team as well as the families of the infants. Unfortunately I don't know any NICU nurses to draw from their knowledge, but I would imagine it can be rewarding especially when those littlest of babies graduate and get to go home. I would also imagine it has to be stressful just because of the different issues that necessitated these babies being in the NICU. But I think is great you've got such curiosity around this and wish you the best if you decide to go down that path.
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