Neonatal Nursing

The neonatal period (Neo meaning new and natal meaning birth) is the first 28 days of life. Babies who have been born prematurely or at full term but are unwell, are cared for in neonatal nurseries. These babies require specialised neonatal nursing care. There is emphasis on the provision of individualised, developmentally and culturally appropriate, family-centred care.

The neonatal nurse is a registered nurse and/or midwife who through study and practice become an expert in the care of the newborn baby. It can be a challenging role, but is immensely rewarding and exciting.

Neonatal nurses work in a variety of areas and their role encompasses clinical, educational, managerial and research aspects. The role also integrates with other roles relating to maternal and child health and is practiced in a variety of settings. Work areas include, but are not limited to, neonatal special care nurseries (SCN), sometimes called special care baby units (or SCBU), neonatal intensive care nurseries (NICN), or units (NICU), postnatal wards, emergency retrieval units, or in the community.

Practical experience is usually the first step and employment in a neonatal nursery is required before undertaking postgraduate studies in neonatal nursing. Each nursery will provide orientation and the opportunity to master the basic skills in neonatal care required for that nursery.

As for other areas of nursing, opportunities exist for management, educational and research roles, with advanced clinical specialisation as neonatal nurse consultants, neonatal nurse practitioners or as neonatal emergency transport nurses.

Some hospitals have neonatal intensive care units combined with special care units; other hospitals have special care nurseries only with transfer to a nearby NICU for higher level treatment. A few hospitals have a combined neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit.

Further information on education programs and individual State requirements