Neonatal Nurses

High School

In order to become a neonatal nurse, you must first train to be a registered nurse. To prepare for a career as a registered nurse, you should take high school mathematics and science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Health courses will also be helpful. English and speech courses should not be neglected because you must be able to communicate well with the parents and other loved ones of patients. Learning a foreign language will help you to communicate more effectively with people who do not speak English fluently.

Postsecondary Training

There is no special program for neonatal nursing in basic RN education; however, some nursing programs have an elective course in neonatal nursing. Entry-level requirements to become a neonatal nurse depend on the institution, its size, and the availability of nurses in that specialty and geographical region. Some institutions may require neonatal nurses to demonstrate their ability in administering medications, performing necessary math calculations, suctioning, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilator care, and other newborn care skills. Nurses who wish to focus on caring for premature babies or sick newborns may choose to attend graduate school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.

Certification

Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in general nursing, as well as advanced certificates for neonatal nurse practitioners. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Online and in-person continuing education opportunities are provided by professional associations (e.g., American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Neonatal Nurses), unions, colleges and universities, and for-profit online learning platforms.