Neonatal Nurse Competency Standards

As a member you are able to download a readable only copy. To do this you need to log-in and go to the members tab.

Should you want a hard copy in either CD or booklet format you will need to purchase a copy.

Copies are available from your local State Association or you can purchase on-line.
CD copies are $12.00 each including postage and handling
Booklet copies are $12.00 each including postage and handling

The skills and knowledge required for neonatal nursing have evolved from a traditional body-systems physiological approach to one incorporating advanced decision making both clinical and ethical, critical thinking skills, counselling skills, cultural awareness, the application of research findings, technological skill, information technology to name a few. Nurses have become the front line care givers in preventing many of the adverse outcomes that may affect the infant and family for life.

If neonatal nurses are to be prepared as professionals for the health care needs of the future, as well as for today’s reality, a relevant evidence based competency standards document is required.The competency standards for neonatal nurses have been developed to reflect the beliefs that neonatal nurses have about their practice and the knowledge that underpin those beliefs. Within the practice of the neonatal nurse both core and advanced nursing behaviours are evident.

The standards are organised into domains that represent the components of that specialty practice. Under each domain has closely related descriptors as key performance elements. Each element has a number of cues and through direct observation or questioning the outcome of the nurse’s behaviours and actions can be identified.

Neonatal nurses practice in a variety of practice settings and as such, individual practice settings are encouraged to develop cues for each of the key performance elements identified. These cues, specific to each setting reflect the diversity of the context of neonatal nursing.

Utilised for the advancement of clinical practice based assessment or as a self reflective tool for all levels of neonatal nurses in the clinical practice or educational practice setting the competency standards encourages the neonatal nurse to incorporate the competency standards into their nursing care, thereby enhancing nursing care to infants and their families.

The standards may be used for nurses beginning their careers as neonatal nurses through to clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners as the nurse moves through the continuum from novice to expert. The competency standards may be used as a framework for curriculum development and assessment of postgraduate speciality programs.