How to Go From Registered Nurse to Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal nurses care for newborn infants including healthy, ill or premature newborns. Neonatal nurses must have a bachelor's degree and be a registered nurse. Some hospitals may employ newly graduated registered nurses work past their license exam, but some may require additional nursing experience.
- Earn a registered nursing degree and make sure it is from an accredited college,. If the school is not accredited, the degree will not be honored and your time and efforts will not be honored. Most registered nursing degrees require a four-year bachelor of science in the nursing field. After you receive your degree, you will need a license in order to practice nursing in the state you reside. A neonatal nurse takes care of newborns in the first 28 days of their life.
- Acquire a job to get your nursing experience. Some graduates are trained to work with a neonatal intensive care unit or an ICU, but most hospitals require registered nurses who have previous experience in a clinical setting and specializing in neonatal nursing.
- Become certified in neonatal intensive care nursing and neonatal resuscitation nursing. Having a certification will help your chances of being hired as a neonatal nurse. You can receive your certification at the national certification corporation in your state.
- Apply at all hospitals and clinics for neonatal nursing jobs. You can find these positions at public and private hospitals in your state. Some hospitals require previous registered nurse experience before you can become a neonatal nurse.