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What Is a Neonatal Nurse?

Even the tiniest patients need specialized healthcare, and neonatal nurses are at the frontline of ensuring babies get the care they need. So, what is a neonatal nurse? As a registered nurse (RN), a neonatal nurse is specially trained to support newborn infants enduring various acute and critical health concerns, including prematurity, birth defects, infections, malformations, surgical complications and more.

Also referred to as baby nurses, neonatal nurses are sometimes confused with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. While they are both nurses who work with babies, they offer different levels of support. Neonatal nursing primarily involves providing routine and acute care, and NICU nursing focuses on newborns who need critical care and life-saving interventions.

Neonatal nurse care is organized by level, as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Level I: Patients are stable but require evaluation and observation, often immediately after birth. 
• Level II: Patients are at least 32 weeks old, where illness is expected to resolve quickly. 
• Level III: Patients are infants who are critically ill or very premature. 
• Level IV: Patients need significant support for severe medical conditions. 

If you are passionate about helping neonatal patients, a career as a baby nurse may be the perfect fit for you. In this guide, we鈥檒l walk through responsibilities, skills needed and how to become a neonatal nurse.

What Does a Neonatal Nurse Do?

A neonatal nurse performs a wide range of patient care duties on a day-to-day basis. Their specific responsibilities often depend on what their patients need. General duties include:

• Monitoring vital signs to closely evaluate patients and respond to any changes in their condition 
• Administering medication as directed by a physician 
• Responding to life-threatening emergencies 
• Providing feeding and nutrition, as well as breastfeeding support for mothers 
• Educating parents on care and discharge plans 
• Collaborating with the patients鈥� healthcare team to ensure clear communication 

While there are endless situations a neonatal nurse responds to, they most commonly support infant patients enduring conditions like anemia, apnea, hypoxia, asphyxia, hyperbilirubinemia, congenital heart defects and more. Among treating these conditions, neonatal nurses provide emotional support for parents and families, answering questions and reducing concerns.

NICU Nurse vs. Neonatal Nurse

What is NICU? This is a specialized area within hospitals where premature infants or those needing newborn intensive care get the support they need. 

Both NICU and neonatal nurses can work in this setting, but a NICU nurse specializes in caring for infants enduring life-threatening challenges. These spaces are considered Level III and Level IV, whereas neonatal nurses are an extension of NICU nursing and work in Level I and Level II environments, like nurseries, for example. 

Their responsibilities overlap as they share advanced knowledge of infant development and care. Both types of nurses provide premature infant care and support the NICU team. They also often collaborate on treatment plans as well as education that families need upon discharge. 

Key Skills of a Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal nurses have the unique task of caring for some of the most fragile patients. This requires certain skills to be successful.

• Compassion and empathy: When an infant is in distress, neonatal nurses must be gentle and calming. Compassion and empathy go a long way, not only for the patient but for their families as well. 
• Attention to detail: Whether you鈥檙e administering medication or monitoring vital signs, it鈥檚 critical to pay attention to details, especially if there are sudden changes in the patient鈥檚 status. 
• Critical thinking and problem-solving: Advanced knowledge in NICU and neonatal nursing allows you to interpret why an infant is in distress and how to address it quickly and safely. 
• Communication: From educating family members to collaborating with care teams, you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively. 
• Emotional resilience: Sometimes neonatal patients pass away despite best efforts and interventions. It鈥檚 important to understand this and have a self-care plan in place to support your ability to move forward. 
• Patience and calmness under pressure: Taking care of ill babies can be stressful at times, and the ability to be patient and stable under pressure gives you a clear mind so you can provide the best care. 

Steps to Becoming a Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal Nurse Salary and Job Outlook

In the United States, the average annual salary for RNs is $93,600.*

RN roles are projected to increase by 5%, faster than average, between 2024 and 2034.* 

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