Qualifications/Skills of a NICU Nurse

Are you destined to become a neonatal nurse?

If you are considering a career as a NICU nurse, you should know it take a specialized set of interpersonal skills—beyond medical skills—to handle the strain of working with medical fragile infants and their stressed parents. NICU nurses need to be strong emotionally and able to incorporate self-care into their routine so they can manage the highs and lows of the job.

Steps to Becoming a NICU Nurse

Become a Registered Nurse: In order to become a registered nurse, you’ll need to first graduate from an approved Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) or Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Since most NICU nurses work in hospitals, it may be worth going the BSN route, since most hospitals prefer it. Upon completion, you’ll have to pass the NCLEX-RN.

Gain Experience: You may be able to find a neonatal nursing role straight out of school but, in order to become a strong Level III NICU nurse candidate, you should aim for at least 2 years clinical experience in infant care specialties, including labor and delivery nursing or pediatric nursing.

Certification: Although a certification isn’t necessarily required to work in a NICU, earning one may help with career advancement and set you apart from other candidates when applying for prestigious or higher-level positions. The National Certification Corporation offers a RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses offers a specialty certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill neonatal patients.

Support for NICU Nurses

There are several professional nursing associations devoted to the professional and personal development of NICU nurses:

Using an association’s resources will keep you up-to-date on industry developments, help you network, connect you with mentors, and open opportunities for professional growth.

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