Why Study to Be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal nurse practitioners are specially trained nurses assigned to care for babies born prematurely or with critical illnesses. A neonatal nurse practitioner usually works in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital. Neonatal nurse practitioners require a master’s degree in nursing and certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing or Neonatal Resuscitation.
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Identification
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Infant care duties in hospitals are typically divided between Level 1, 2 and 3 neonatal nurses. Level 1 nurses care for healthy infants, while Level 2 nurses care for those born premature or ill, as stated on the Career University website. Severely ill babies are tended to by experienced Level 3 nurses, known as neonatal nurse practitioners.
Study Benefits
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Neonatal nurse practitioners usually require a master’s degrees in their specialty field. These programs are widely available at nursing schools and universities across the United States. Most courses contain valuable work experience placements in clinical settings. Part-time study is often available so registered nurses can carry on working as they study. Students may also be eligible for tuition reimbursement for study costs.
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Family Assistance
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The main reason to study as a neonatal practitioner is to sustain the life of newborn babies born with serious mental or physical defects and offer them a significant chance of recovery. A neonatal nurse practitioner achieves this via the use of incubators, ventilators and other specialist equipment, as stated on the My Pursuit careers and degrees website.
A neonatal nurse practitioner also support the parents of a premature or ill baby. She updates a baby’s parents on the health of their child and informs them of any complications that have already occurred or may occur in the future. By helping parents understand medical facts and offering emotional support, neonatal nurse practitioners keep families intact during traumatic times.
Personal Satisfaction
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Sustaining life, especially that of an infant, can be an emotionally rewarding occupation. By assisting babies through the trauma of birth defects and illnesses, a neonatal nurse practitioner tends to the most vulnerable patients in society, sustaining life at its inception. This can provide emotional elevation and a healthier outlook on life.
Salary Benefits
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Neonatal nurse practitioners are typically well paid. The average salary of an entry level neonatal nurse as of June 2010 was $85,000, according to the Indeed job search and salary information website. For those with more than 10 years experience, the salary range can grow to in excess of $100,000.
Working Benefits
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Flexible hours and part-time positions are usually available to neonatal nurse practitioners. Many employers also provide health, life insurance and pension policies. Some healthcare institutions provide educational reimbursements for any further training undertaken such as a master‘s degree in neonatal nursing. Some employers also offer bonuses.
Outlook
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Job opportunities for registered nurses, including neonatal nurse practitioners, are expected to be excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 22 percent in the period from 2008 to 2018, resulting in 581,500 new jobs.
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References
- Photo Credit baby image by Dron from Fotolia.com
