The Critical Role of Neonatal Nurses: Why Their Expertise is More Vital Than Ever

Neonatal nurses work with babies who are experiencing health complications. Often their patients were born premature or with other life-threatening conditions.

The profoundly sensitive nature of this work makes it particularly difficult in a profession that is known for challenging emotional situations. Do you have what it takes to become a neonatal nurse practitioner? There is a high need for this job and qualified professionals can command extremely competitive salaries while doing work that makes a true and impactful difference.

In this article, we take a look at what neonatal nursing is and it is needed now more than ever.

Why now?

The nursing shortage has been felt in all aspects of healthcare. But while new RNs are minted every day—not quite literally, but you get the point— neonatal nurse practitioners are a bit rarer to come by.

For one thing, it is harder to become one. You need a graduate degree which will cost you 2 to 3 years of your life and in the ballpark of $50,000.

The work itself also tends to turn people away. In the next heading, we will take a look at why people leave neonatal nursing.

Why This Job has a High Turnover Rate

The answer isn’t so hard to come by. Neonatal nurses witness families being torn apart every day. It is a basic part of their job description. As a neonatal nurse practitioner, you will work exclusively with only the most vulnerable patients.

Often they will die.

You will also work directly with their families. Parents meeting their child for the first time, only to say goodbye to them forever moments later.

You don’t have to stretch your imagination to figure out why someone would want to leave a job like this behind.

You aren’t exactly selling me on it.

Oh, hello. Didn’t see you there. It is important to lay the case against becoming a neonatal nurse out clearly. Attracting the wrong people doesn’t do anyone any good.

That said, there is at least an equally compelling case in favor of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.

Why You Should Think About It

Sad to say, but those babies are already sick. Your presence at the hospital can only make a positive difference. Neonatal nurse practitioners have the opportunity to bring back babies who might otherwise be a lost cause. They provide families a sense of comfort during the most difficult and unimaginable experience of their lives.

They are important in the healthcare community, doing jobs that only a very special and limited number of nurses are willing to do.

All healthcare workers are heroes, but neonatal nurses take things another step further. In the next several headings, we will take a look at special benefits that are worth considering.

Better Pay

It may feel morbid to think about compensation given the nature of work but neonatal practitioners have bills to pay just like anyone else right? The good news is that they’ll have lots of money to pay them with.

Neonatal nurse practitioners command six-figure salaries. With seniority, they can make multiple tens of thousands of dollars more than standard RNs. No nurse goes into the profession hoping to get rich, but neonatal nurse practitioners do earn handsome compensation regardless.

More Autonomy

One of the nice things about being a nurse practitioner in any healthcare context is that you have more freedom and greater responsibilities than other nurses.

In some states, you will not even require supervision at all to perform most of your duties. You’ll be able to diagnose your patients, write prescriptions, and do many of the same duties a doctor would normally take care of.

If you are interested in engaging with healthcare on a deeper level but don’t want to spend 12 years in medical school this is an excellent alternative.

Success Stories

As terrible as it is to lose an infant patient, saving one is just as sweet. Neonatal nurse practitioners have to have a high threshold for emotional pain. However, they also reap the benefits of incredible triumphs and great joy when things go the way they are supposed to.

How Do You Become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse practitioners must first complete their BSN. From there most usually go on to work for at least several years as a floor nurse.

As a floor nurse, they become familiar with their passions and select an emphasis with which to continue their studies. If you are completely positive that becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner is for you, you can go directly into graduate school after obtaining your bachelor's degree. Some schools may even offer you the opportunity to begin accumulating graduate degree credit hours while you are still an undergraduate student.

This does make your coursework more challenging. It is also an excellent way to save time and money. Keep in mind in the context of education, time and money aren’t necessarily different things.

Getting your graduate degree quicker means spending less money on loans and enjoying more time as a high-earning nurse practitioner once you begin your job.

No matter what, you should expect to spend between 5 to 7 years in college in total getting your master’s in nursing.

It is expensive, but you can make your college education more affordable by looking into grants and scholarships designed to alleviate the pain of the nursing shortage.

Because nursing jobs are in such high demand, you should find plenty of options to choose from. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to be a straight-A student to take advantage of these opportunities. Even a B-grade point average is enough to earn you considerable money if you apply for the right scholarship.

The time and money commitment will wind up being significant for most people. However, it’s well worth it for individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young children and the families who love them.