NEONATAL NURSING
Neonatal nursing is a sub speciality of nursing that works with newborn infants born with a variety of problems ranging from prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems. The neonatal period is defined as the first month of life; however, these newborns are often sick for months. Neonatal nursing generally encompasses those infants who experience problems shortly after birth, but it also encompasses care for infants who experience long-term problems related to their prematurity or illness after birth. A few neonatal nurses may care for infants up to about 2 years of age. Most neonatal nurses care for infants from the time of birth until they are discharged from the hospital.
Approximately 40,000 low-birth-weight infants are born annually in the United States. Because of significant medical advances and the efforts of physicians and nurses who provide for very vulnerable babies, survival rates are 10 times better now than they were 15 years ago.
Neonatal nursing can be a great career option for those who love infants and consider it a pleasure to work for them. The neonatal nurses work for three different levels - in the first level, they take care of healthy born babies after childbirth, in the second level they cater to the needs of the ill newborns or those who have had a premature birth and in the third level, they work for the newborns with problems which cannot be treated or cured in the earlier two levels. You can choose the level in which you wish to work as a neonatal nurse, as per your inclinations and capacities.
NATURE OF JOB OF A NEONATAL NURSE
The job description of a neonatal nurse would mainly consist of their important contribution in dealing with cases wherein newborn babies have serious problems like respiratory disorders and low weight at birth. These nurses also guide and solve all the queries of the parents of the newborns related to child health and well being. A neonatal nurse has to adapt and act quickly to tackle the difficult situations and have good communication skills and presence of mind which are useful for conveying the right information related to health issues.
Neonatal nurses are known to help in the task of feeding the babies by the means of a gavage tube at a time when they are too small. The ups and downs in the health conditions of the baby are closely monitored, and quick decisions are taken to save it from any kind of disorders. Blood testing, doing the job of blood transfusion, and inserting IV's and changing them at the right time are also some major functions of the neonatal nurses.
Approximately 40,000 low-birth-weight infants are born annually in the United States. Because of significant medical advances and the efforts of physicians and nurses who provide for very vulnerable babies, survival rates are 10 times better now than they were 15 years ago.
Neonatal nursing can be a great career option for those who love infants and consider it a pleasure to work for them. The neonatal nurses work for three different levels - in the first level, they take care of healthy born babies after childbirth, in the second level they cater to the needs of the ill newborns or those who have had a premature birth and in the third level, they work for the newborns with problems which cannot be treated or cured in the earlier two levels. You can choose the level in which you wish to work as a neonatal nurse, as per your inclinations and capacities.
NATURE OF JOB OF A NEONATAL NURSE
The job description of a neonatal nurse would mainly consist of their important contribution in dealing with cases wherein newborn babies have serious problems like respiratory disorders and low weight at birth. These nurses also guide and solve all the queries of the parents of the newborns related to child health and well being. A neonatal nurse has to adapt and act quickly to tackle the difficult situations and have good communication skills and presence of mind which are useful for conveying the right information related to health issues.
Neonatal nurses are known to help in the task of feeding the babies by the means of a gavage tube at a time when they are too small. The ups and downs in the health conditions of the baby are closely monitored, and quick decisions are taken to save it from any kind of disorders. Blood testing, doing the job of blood transfusion, and inserting IV's and changing them at the right time are also some major functions of the neonatal nurses.