Neonatal nurse what they do?

Have you ever imagined holding babies all day and getting paid for it? Well, that’s the life of a neonatal nurse! It might seem like an easy job but trust me, being a neonatal nurse requires training, experience, patience and strong passion for caring for infants.

Who is a Neonatal Nurse?

A Neonatal Nurse is specially trained to care for newborns who are born prematurely or have critical medical conditions requiring intensive nurturing. They are basically superheroes in scrubs operating within the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at any hospital around the world.

Types of Neonates Under Nurses’ Care

The following are types of neonates who require specialized care from neonatal nurses:

  • Preterm Babies
  • Babies with birth defects
  • Infants experiencing respiratory processes challenges
  • Newborns diagnosed with infections such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis
  • Babies with congenital disorders like Down syndrome

Job Description

A typical shift under these superheroes goes something like this:

  1. Reviewing Patient Charts – Before handling patients, it is required that a review of their background charts be done (so we don’t mess up)

  2. Checking vital signs – This includes monitoring pulse rate, respiration rate and checking temperature regularly especially when administering medications (We just want them comfortable)

  3. Administering Medications- For preterm babies receiving essential nutrients orally isn’t feasible; thus special medication devices e.g., Sof-touch feeding device must be used (Ensures they get better)

  4. Educating Parents- Often many parents aren’t aware of practical ways to take care of premature babies so one role played by nurses is educating parents on how they can maintain their hygiene baby’s health(Parental guidance goes along way)

  5. Alert Health Professionals – Whenever there’s been complications observed in any little mite, neonatal nurses must alert healthcare professionals to act quickly and saves live (Yes We get to call The Shots)

  6. Keeping Accurate Records – Its is essential Neonatal nurses maintain detailed records of every infant’s care, including their feeding schedules and medication doses so as not compromise a patient care.

Training & Certification

Before becoming superheroes in scrubs /neonatal nurse/, the following qualifications are non-negotiable:

  • A degree in nursing science i.e., BSCN
  • Registered Nurse status by passing the National Council Licensure Examination- RN (NCLEX-RN)
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Challenges Faced

Being a Neonatal Nurse can be emotionally taunting at times especially when dealing with infants who have succumbed (deaths) from critical illnesses. Seeing babies who you’ve built an emotional connection die (heartbreaking) becomes hard for many neonate nurses hence they undergo counseling sessions from time-to-time.

Neonate Nurses are also exposed to bodily fluids like blood and vomit, e.g., during enteral feeding or instances of gag reflexes; thus regular masking up is mandatory (It gets slimy sometimes but its all part of work build your immunity anyways right? Lol ).

Conclusion

There we go! That’s what it takes to become a superhero In scrubs, taking unwavering commendable dedication quite determined team spirit, tenacity plus much more than just holding babies.

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