The job of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse requires you to take care of newborn infants. You will be taking care of infants that are suffering from some kind of illness or are premature. As a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, you have to stay strong all the time to take care of the infants and provide support to the parents. You have to fulfill all the medical needs and teach the instructions to the guardians for after-care. A NICU nurse takes care of all the infants’ treatment plans and tests whenever needed.
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Job Description – NICU Nurse
To join as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, you have to be caring and dedicated towards your job. You should have control over your emotions as you will be handling infants and also telling the reports to their guardians. It requires round-the-clock care for the infants, from changing diapers to keeping track of regular tests. You have to stay focused doing this job as it requires intensive care and a focused mind to track the activity. As a NICU nurse, you will also have to take care of the meals and feed them to the infants via methods as prescribed by the doctors.
A successful NICU nurse should be caring and have empathy. There will be times when you will be working under pressure, but the one who handles such situations understands the severity of this job. NICU nurses have to coordinate with the doctors regarding the health and reports of the infant. Working with neonatal healthcare professionals is also a part of this job, which requires you to have good communication skills to get the right information and interpret it easily. Also, you should have knowledge of the NICU equipment to treat newborns.
Skills Required – NICU Nurse
Being a NICU Nurse is a great responsibility and you have to learn the medical care techniques for infants. You should know how to empathize and you should care. This job requires good skills when taking care of ill infants. The job can get stressful at times and you will have to manage it all while taking notes of the infant’s health and eating habits. You should know the use of NICU equipment for the treatment of newborns. Good communication skills are yet another thing you need to communicate easily with the NICU physician.
Job Responsibilities
- Taking care of ill and premature infants and taking notes on the regular reports
- Changing of diapers and maintaining the hygiene of the infants
- Performing different tests, administrating the medications, and inserting IV lines whenever required or directed by the physician
- Working with the NICU physician and assisting them with the medical procedures that are performed on the infants
- Providing support to the guardians of the infants and helping them understand the infant’s health
- Guiding the parents with proper home-care for the infant to promote recovery and good health
- Offering care for the infants and comforting their parents in hard situations
- Planning proper healthcare plans for the infants and evaluating their effectiveness
- You will be responsible for feeding the infants and also making their meal plans for the day to promote good health. Ask the NICU physician if required.
- You should have good communication skills to help get the right information from the NICU physician and help evaluate reports easily.
Job Requirements
- You should hold a govt. approved registered nursing license.
- You should have a bachelor’s in Nursing or a related field.
- At least 1 year of experience working in CU or NICU is required.
- CPR certification is also required in most healthcare organizations.
- Good communication and writing skills in the English language
- You should be caring and also strong enough to provide comfort to the infants and their parents.
- Knowledge of NICU equipment and its applications
- You should be a team player.
- You should have the ability to comfort ill infants with love and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What is the role of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Ans. Working as a NICU nurse, you will be taking care of premature and ill infants. You will be planning proper tests, medications, and even meal plans for the infants. Apart from that, you have to comfort the guardians and provide information regarding the health status of the infant to them.
2 What Certifications are required to be a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Ans. You should hold a registered nursing license and a certification in CPR to be eligible for this job. You should also have a degree in nursing or a related field.
3 Is it important to have experience before joining as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Ans. Yes, you should at least hold a minimum of 1 year of experience working in either ICU or NICU. You will be taking care of ill and premature infants which require attention to every small detail.