Newborn Nursery Nurse

A newborn nursery nurse works with newborn infants who are born without complications, at least 35 weeks gestation (not premature) and who do not require any complex care. These infants are typically referred to level I nursery. In contrast, an infant that is a level II or level III requires a higher level of care than a nursery can provide and are transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (Bean-Mellinger, 2018).

Newborn nursery nurses monitor the infants’ vital signs, perform routine tests and care, monitor feeding, and help new mothers prepare to bring them home.  Experience and training required to work in this field include certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).  Most nurses will also have experience working in labour and delivery and postpartum care before becoming a nursery nurse.

Certifications and Associations

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Neonatal Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN)

Reference

Bean-Melligner, B. (2018). The Difference Between an NICU Nurse & a Nursery Nurse. Retrieved from https://work.chron.com/difference-between-nicu-nurse-nursery-nurse-2813.html

Expert 2061

Expert 2061 is an experienced obstetrical nurse with experience in labour and delivery, postpartum care, and newborn nursery.  She has worked in labour and delivery, including newborn nursery, since 2003 and is certified in advanced fetal monitoring, neonatal resuscitation, and advanced cardiac life support.  The expert lives and works in Illinois but is available nationwide for newborn nursery and labour and delivery cases.