Looking After Baby
Imagine the joy when a woman finds out that she is expecting a baby. The idea that a new life will be entering the world, fulfilling the dreams of a mother and father and, perhaps, an excited big brother or big sister. Ten little fingers, ten little toes, and all is right with the world. Or is it?
Neonatal – Welcoming Baby into the World
It's unfortunate but true that thousands of babies need special medical care from the moment they are born. This is the world of the neonatal nurses – those specialized nurses who take care of little newborn infants up to 28 days old. Neonatal nurses are often found in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) with the healthy babies or with the sick or premature babies.
There are three different levels of neonatal nursing:
Level I – Caring for Healthy Newborns
The babies are healthy and there are no major concerns other than basic aftercare to make sure both baby and mother are okay. Often mothers and newborns share the same room and, because their stay in the hospital is only a couple of days long, there really are not a lot of Level I neonatal nurses left.
Level II – Caring for Premature and Ill Newborns
When a baby is premature or is not well, this is considered Level II in neonatal nursing. Often these babies need extra monitoring, oxygen, I.V. therapy, special feeding assistance and, quite often, extra time to grow and get stronger before going home.
Level III – Caring for Newborns that Need Technological Intervention.
These little newborns need the most help. Sometimes they need extra care, such as ventilators, incubators, or even surgery and direct monitoring. Often these Level III units are found in children's hospitals or large hospitals where the mother is sent when she is going to have a special delivery of concern, or where the baby might be sent for the extra care and attention he or she needs.
Each level of neonatal nurse is trained in the use and monitoring of ventilators and incubators, monitoring babies for even the most subtle changes, and more. They also communicate with the parents to keep them up to date with the healthcare their baby is receiving. Many work under the direction of neonatologists, who are specialists that have extra training in the intensive care of newborns. Many neonatal nurses also work in a team with other neonatal nurses (also known as NNPs or Neonatal Nurse Practitioners).
So, You Want to Be A Neonatal Nurse?
In most hospitals and healthcare centers, neonatal nurses must be a registered nurse with either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Masters of Science in Nursing. In addition, extra time, often a minimum of three years, is required for clinical experience. Neonatal nurses must also be certified as Neonatal Resuscitation Provider, as well as be certified in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing or Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
Salaries for neonatal nurses varies from state to state and region to region. For example, in the Midwest nurses starting off can make 30,000-40,000 annually. They can make more on the east and west coast.
The National Association of Neonatal Nurses celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009. This organization was formed in 1984 to help preserve and address the specialty field of neonatal nursing. According to their website, their core purpose is to "support the professional needs of neonatal nurses throughout their careers."
Labor and Delivery (L&D) Nurses
While neonatal nurses are there to help baby after he or she is born, labor and delivery room nurses are there at the moment the baby comes into the world, usually at the beginning of a woman's labor. They help the pregnant woman as she is brought into the delivery room, as well as pregnant women who are in the hospital due to complications. When the mother goes into labor, they help the doctor through out the labor process and are on hand should there be an emergency. In fact, labor and delivery nurses are trained in neonatal resuscitation.
Labor and delivery nurses begin their careers as an RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After achieving RN certification, the nurse will then specialize in the field of labor and delivery. There are several labor and delivery roles available:
- Antepartum Nurse – caring for hospitalized pregnant patients with complications.
- L&D Nurse – caring for patients in labor who do not present any complications.
- Circulating Nurse – caring for patients in the operating room during cesarean birth.
- Scrub Nurse – assisting the surgeons during a cesarean delivery.
- Postpartum Nurse – caring for patients who have just recently delivered a baby.
- Nursery Nurse – caring for newborns in the hospital nursery.
It takes a special individual to become a labor and delivery nurse. These nurses are individuals who are fast thinkers, able to handle stressful situation, show professional judgment and critical thinking skills.
The pay scale for labor and delivery nurses varies from state to state and region to region, just as with other nursing fields. According to Payscale.comthe median hourly wage for a labor and delivery nurse can start at about $19.91/hr for a nurse with less than 1 year of experience to $29.81/hr for nurses with up to 20years of experience.
Whether you decide that labor and delivery nursing or neonatal nursing is your field of interest, the bottom line is that you are devoting your career to the care of a new human being. Many nurses in these fields become an important part of the mother, father, and baby. Communication skills and a real urge to be of service is essential. Often both L&D nurses and neonatal nurses work with the patient and the doctor to create a care plan, adjusting it accordingly. Some even work with the mother to manage any postpartum depression concerns as well.
Some essential resources of interest:
Article © MyNursingUniforms.com / Young Lion Incorporated - Image Courtesy of Lord Manley
