Is Neonatal Care Really a Smart Career Choice for You?
Neonatal care comprises of 3 important phases.
The 1st phase provides care for healthy infants.
The 2nd phase provides care for premature babies that are ill and require oxygen support or intravenous treatment.
The 3rd phase which is also known as the 'neonatal intensive care unit' is meant for infants that are grossly premature.
These babies are small, sickly and require ventilators or incubators to survive.
Most infants that fall into this cadre require surgery and close monitoring until their situation greatly improves.
Neonatal intensive care unit nurses are in high demand.
This is because statistics show that the births of premature babies are on the rise.
This is a delicate situation that requires the help of professionals because the infants need to be well-looked after.
Neonatal intensive care unit nurses go beyond providing succor for a young child.
They also bolster the hopes of stressed-out couples who have been hit badly by the predicament of their newborn.
It is the duty of the nurse to enlighten and comfort couples and family members.
A neonatal intensive care unit can be a tough place to work.
Infants are usually in pain and some of them even die.
A neonatal nurse has her work cut out because she is meant to be an anchor of love, care and support for all those involved.
She is not to let her emotions get a grip on her sense of judgment and professionalism.
If neonatal intensive care is taking its toll on a nurse, there is always the option of changing to lesser or more convenient phases.
If you want to work in this special care unit, you are required to enroll for a college program and scale through intense courses as well as pass a licensing exam.
It takes just 1 year to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
On the other hand, it takes 2 years to get an associate's degree and 4 years to bag a bachelor's degree.
A bachelor's degree gives you the chance to be a registered nurse (RN) and fires up your chances of enjoying increased wages.
Some hospitals cut costs and employ graduates fresh from college as neonatal nurses.
Other hospitals require at least 12 months of experience before giving anyone an opportunity for work.
It is possible to get a master's degree and end up a neonatal nurse practitioner after a few years.
The salary of a neonatal nurse is influenced by the level of demand and the location of interest.
The average salary of a neonatal nurse in California is $45,000.
If you are a fresh graduate in Florida, your salary is pegged at $30,000 per annum.
There is a shortage of neonatal nurses in the United States as well as in the developed parts of the world.
Choosing neonatal care as a career choice is a smart move because salaries are expected to increase year after year because of the rise in demand.