How The Program Works
The Entry Level MSN is a blended program which leads to a Master of Science in Nursing without specialization.
Students will complete a component of their theory coursework through a flexible online learning environment. The main portion of your program is hosted at the La Roche University main campus in McCandless Township, 15 minutes north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Here, youll take hands-on laboratory courses led by our experienced faculty members and get to know your classmates. Youll also complete clinical rotations in the community through our local health partnerships with hospitals, clinics and other care sites.
The Entry Level MSN takes place over five accelerated semesters and can be completed in as few as 20 months of study. It is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is approved by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing .
Stand Out In Your Career Search
In 2010, the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Family Foundation released a report calling for 80% of RNs to have a bachelors degree by 2020.i Although nursing workforces are unlikely to meet this target, the number of BSN-prepared nurses has been rising. Only 44% of nurses held a BSN degree in 2004, but by 2013 57% of nurses were BSN-prepared.ii
As a result, a bachelors degree in nursing is increasingly seen as an entry-level qualification, especially at selective Magnet hospitals and with government employers such as the Veterans Administration.iii Earning a masters degree helps you stand out from BSN-prepared nurses and signals to employers that you have the critical thinking and research skills necessary for leadership-track roles in the future.
Two What Does A Neonatal Nurse Do
In addition to hands-on patient care, monitoring, and feeding of the babies, NICU nurses also work intimately with moms and dads, who are going through this emotional experience with their newborn. NICU nurses provide comfort and education to help families get through this trying time.
According to NANN, neonatal nursing generally involves care for newly-born infants in crisis, but may additionally encompass neonates who suffer from long-term problems related to being born early, or from some severe illness encountered soon after birth. Some neonatal nurses may even care for babies up to about 2 years of age. NICU nurses are not only responsible for the care of the babies but also the entire family unit. They often act as a shoulder to cry for distraught parents, assist with breastfeeding to new mothers, and provide lasting memories to new parents.
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S To Become A Neonatal Nurse
There are generally five steps to become and remain a qualified and licensed neonatal nurse:
Earn an ASN or BSN degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education . Many of these programs can be completed online. A degree program advisor or school’s career center can also help find job opportunities within a NICU to start gaining relevant work experience to start building a professional resume.
Complete a practicum supervised clinical experience as part of the degree. Aspiring neonatal nurses may want to seek out a nursing school that offers clinical practicum placements within a nursery or NICU to train in the specialty.
Take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become eligible to apply for state licensure as an RN.
Complete continuing education credits and contact hours as necessary to keep nursing skills current and licensure active and in good standing.
To learn more about nursing requirements and to see a list of accredited online nursing programs by state, explore our guide to becoming a nurse.
Are You Ready To Start Your Career As A Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal Nurses are saving the lives of children every single day, and their work is truly remarkable.
If you feel passionate about caring for infants and their families during a critical moment in their lives, then a career in neonatal nursing could be tremendously gratifying.
Start your BSN degree program at Provo College to begin your journey of becoming a Neonatal Nurse.
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Level One: Well Newborn Nursery
These “well baby units” are equipped to provide neonatal resuscitation for all deliveries and can also provide postnatal care to healthy newborn infants. They generally assist infants born after 35 weeks and the units are staffed with pediatricians and family physicians.
Neonatal nurse practitioners rarely work in these facilities as the demand for their skills is limited.
Licensed Practical Nurse Certification
Licensed practical nurses do not independently decide treatment options but they can carry out interventions and services. To become a licensed practical nurse a one-year certification program can be completed at a vocational school, community college or private school. Oftentimes public schools are more attractive to hospitals than private vocational schools. Public colleges are often less expensive and provide more financial aid opportunities for students.
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Eight What Skills Do You Need To Be A Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses require a wide range of skills, including the ability to remain calm under pressure and communicate easily with both children and adults.
Additionally, it is helpful for nurses working with this special patient population to possess personal characteristics that will help them to engage with their patients and provide them with the high level of compassion, relatability, and understanding that they need.
People who are sensitive, empathetic, emotionally stable and responsible make excellent pediatric nurses.
Where Do Nicu Nurses Work
NICU nurses will find employment in both privately owned as well as public hospitals. Once in a while, although infrequently, NICU nurses can be found working in home-health service settings or even as a part of medical emergency teams. Here is a list of the most common locations you will find NICU nurses:
- Medical Evacuation and Transport Services
- Home Health Services
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How Much Can You Make As A Neonatal Nurse
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average wage for registered nurses was $82,750 per year .* Pay varies based on many factors such as years of experience, the type of healthcare facility, your specialty in nursing and the state in which you practice.
Registered nurses with specializations such as neonatal/NICU care require higher levels of training and experienceand have the potential to earn an above average salary.
What Is The Career Outlook For Neonatal Nurses
There is a nationwide shortage of nurses that includes NICU nurses. Contributing factors to the demand include advances in life-saving medical technology for neonates and the increased use of fertility treatments, which may contribute to neonatal health complications. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a steady 9% job growth through 2030 for registered nurses, including neonatal nurses, though the demand and employment may be higher in some parts of the country.
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What Were Some Of Your Favorite Courses And Why
I definitely enjoyed my science classes, particularly anatomy and physiology, and understanding the way the body is created and functions, and what goes wrong with diseases. The clinical courses in nursing are the real highlight, and also being able to focus on a particular area such as medical surgical nursing, intensive care, psychiatric, and pediatrics. There is something to take away from each area, even if it isn’t of real interest. As BSN nurses, we are taught to see the big picture, care for patients holistically, and think critically.
Three What Is It Like To Work As A Pediatric Nurse
As for what the daily job is like, it really depends on the type of health care facility. Pediatric nurses in hospitals will work a variety of shifts that provide care 24/7, while those working for a community organization might have more traditional hours.
The hours that a pediatric nurse will work are also dependent upon these variables, as well as whether the facility assigns nurses to specific shifts. In most hospitals, pediatric nurses will work a 12-hour period per shift, and that may stretch into more time if patient needs are high. If the facility uses a three-shift model with overlapping shifts, the pediatric nurse will likely work a ten-hour shift.
For those pediatric nurses who work in clinics or private offices, working hours will generally be restricted to daytime, between 8 in the morning and 5 at night, though an increasing number of pediatric sites are offering extended evening and weekend hours.
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How Long Does It Take To Become A Neonatal Nurse
Aspiring neonatal nurses can enter the field with an ADN degree that takes two years to complete. However, a BSN degree, which takes four years to complete on average, will open up more employment opportunities and higher salaries. An MSN or a doctoral degree with a neonatal specialization can add 2-4 more years of study.
What To Expect On A Day
Neonatal nurses often work in hospitals, either in level II nurseries with less acute patients or level III nursery units with the most critically ill infants. In some cases, these nurses work in community settings and at-home or follow-up care for high-risk patients. Neonatal nurses in a hospital can expect to work with multiple patients throughout their shift. Since neonatal critical care is an around-the-clock department, shifts tend to be 12-hours and include weekend and holiday work.1
On a daily basis, neonatal nurses may face the stress of caring for infants with medical conditions such as prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations and surgical problems.1 This may also mean providing emotional support and empathy to worried parents.2 Being a neonatal nurse can be highly stressful, but a myriad of rewards can outweighing the pressures of this career, including making a difference in the lives of infants and their families.
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Where Does A Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Work
Although you can expect to perform most or all of the above duties throughout your neonatal nursing career, your specific responsibilities will ultimately depend on the setting in which you work.
Depending on the type of hospital, there are typically either three or four levels of newborn care in the United States. These levels are categorized by the American Academy of Pediatrics as follows:
What Do Nicu Nurses Do
Neonatal nurses working in NICU have a wide variety of duties. Their responsibilities may include resuscitating infants, educating new mothers about breastfeeding, and everything in between. NICU nurses work together with professionals like pediatricians, midwives, and dietitians, to provide care to newborns with various health problems. They may attend births, and they measure and weigh newborns. NICU nurses ensure that an infant’s bodily functions, such as blood circulation, digestion, and breathing, perform as expected. Furthermore, they have a crucial role in supporting the baby’s parents.
Typical duties of a NICU neonatal nurse include:
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performing tests to evaluate any problems
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monitoring infant health
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administering treatment and medication prescribed by doctors
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educating new parents on how to care for their baby
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communicating with parents about the care and health of their infant, etc.
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Take And Pass A National Neonatal Certification Exam
After gaining experience in the NICU, most neonatal nurses choose to take one or more certification exams to validate their knowledge and advance their careers. A number of tests specific to neonatal nursing are offered by several certification organizations, and many enable you to prove your expertise in a specific area of neonatal nursing. For example, nursinglicensure.org lists:
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification is a basic requirement for neonatal nurses.
- National Certification Corporation offers certifications in Low Risk Neonatal Nursing and National Intensive Care Nursing .
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring and Neonatal Pediatric Transport are sub-specialty certifications offered to RNs and other healthcare professionals such as paramedics and physician assistants.
- The American Association of Critical Care Nursing offers CCRN® certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill neonatal patients.
Regardless of any sub-specializations you decide to pursue, its generally advised that all neonatal nurses should be certified in:
- Basic Life Support
Five How To Become A Pediatric Nurse
Whether becoming a pediatric nurse has been your lifelong dream or whether youre newly considering the profession, youll find that the effort you put into attaining the skills and education needed for this specialty are well worth it. Though there are a variety of options for how to achieve this goal, today most nurses follow a path that involves pursuing either a Bachelors degree in nursing or a Masters degree. Heres an overview of how long it will take:
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Before Becoming A Nicu Nurse
If you’re considering a career as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, congratulations NICU nurses have one of the hardest jobs in medicine. A NICU nurse is a nursing specialty who cares for sick or premature babies, including babies with birth defects. While the decision to become a nurse is easy for many individuals, deciding on whether to become a neonatal nurse is a much more difficult one. Here are some things to consider before becoming a NICU nurse.
What Is The Current Job Market For Neonatal Nurses
The field of nursing overall is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth rate of 6% from 2021-2031 for registered nurses.* Thats good to know if youre planning on becoming a neonatal nurse, but keep in mind the BLS also reports employers may prefer candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing , relevant work experience and certification in their chosen area of specialization, neonatal nursing included.
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Nine What Is The Career Outlook For A Pediatric Nurse
Nursing will continue to be an in-demand field because of the impending nursing shortage and the aging population. In fact, RN jobs are projected to have a growth rate of 9% through the year 2030, which is faster than most occupations, according to the BLS. Adding a specialty like pediatric nursing will likely provide even more job security.
In addition, pediatric nurses are highly sought after by some types of employers. For instance, working for a childrens hospital is a natural fit for pediatric nurses. Considering that Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, and Boston Childrens Health are all on the list of the 25 Best Hospitals to Work For 2021-22, you can understand why pediatric nursing can be a very rewarding career.
Having specialized skills is also an excellent way to be a strong candidate for travel nursing jobs. Travel nurses get to work short-term jobs all over the country, usually for 12-week contracts . Being experienced and having credentials in a high-demand area like pediatrics can give you an edge.
What Did Your Day
The day-to-day work depends on the level of NICU the nurse is stations. Level One is well baby, while those in Level Four require life sustaining measures, long term care, surgery, and advanced technology. The more premature a baby is or the more critically ill, the higher level of advanced care will be required. Most people think about neonatal nursing from the perspective of critically ill neonates.
The working day begins with reports from nurses on the previous shift. Report includes the history, current condition, changes, needs, and family involvement, as an example. The nurse then assesses the neonate, including hands on care, listening to heart and lungs, and performs a complete physical assessment. This establishes a baseline to know the neonates condition and identify any problems, new or ongoing. As the shift continues, the nurse performs procedures such as starting an IV, giving medications, drawing blood samples, adjusting oxygen levels, and feeding the baby.
Any changes or needs are reported to the doctor or nurse practitioner, and everyone works together as a team. Parents come and go and the nurse is key in educating them, communicating with them, and always facilitating their role as the parent. It also means preparing them for taking the baby home while being realistic about the baby’s condition.
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Neonatal Nurse Specialist Career Outlook
As with most nursing careers, demand for neonatal nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners is expected to increase significantly over the next 10 years, even in rural or suburban areas.
Everyones still having babies, Morgan notes, and about 10% of them will always need extra care.
The job is not only in demand but also an enjoyable one.
develop a wonderful rapport with each family, says Joan E. Edwards, a tenured professor at Texas Womans University in Houston and director of its Center for Global Nursing. Its not just a science, its also an art. Theres a lot of caring behind what we do.
What Are Some Duties Of A Neonatal Nurse
Apart from providing direct patient care for babies, they help with feeding them, monitoring their health, collaborating with the pediatric department, and communicating with the families who may be scared or anxious.They must also be physically stable because their jobs require some measure of stress.
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Education Requirements For Nursery Nurses
Most nursery nurses earn a bachelor’s in nursing and then become certified as registered nurses. However, it is also possible for a professional to earn an RN license through an associate degree program.
Whether you choose to pursue a four-year or two-year educational program, it can be helpful to earn additional certifications in neonatal care. This can allow you to gain expertise and may give you an advantage in the job application process.
Read more:Nursing Certifications: What You Need to Know