Almost 1 of every 10 babies in the United States are born prematurely. This means that the baby was born before 37 weeks, while a full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks. This is where the profession of a NICU nurse comes into play. NICU nursing is defined as a type of nursing that works with newborns born with a variety of problems ranging from prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems. These nurses change the lives of these little people and impact them indefinitely. They give sick, helpless babies a chance at a good, healthy life. Most nurses actually hear from the families of the infants they treated throughout their lives. These nurses are so special and really make a difference in this world.

The road to becoming a NICU nurse can become lengthy, depending on how far into nursing one wants to go. One pathway would be to go to a college or university to earn a BSN (the baccalaureate degree) and it typically takes fours years to acquire. Having a BSN permits a lot of flexibility and is very beneficial for career advancements. Generally, nurses with a BSN get better opportunities, such as more responsibility and a higher salary. Although there are other routes such as earning an associates degree or a diploma degree, it is strongly advised that nurses get their BSN, for which it will help them in the long run.

   As a nurse’s career advances, there are several different opportunities available in NICU nursing. For example, one job a nurse might consider would be a nurse manager. Primarily, nurse managers make sure that all the resources and supplies are present in the hospital and keep the workplace in the NICU running smoothly. A staff nurse, however, supplies immediate care for the more ill newborns. It’s likely that staff nurses will guide new mothers with breastfeeding, attend deliveries of very premature babies and keep an eye on babies who might be on ventilators and receiving numerous medications. Compared to the two jobs that have been listed, there are many other jobs in the nursing department such as, clinical nurse specialists, developmental care specialist, and a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP). With the number of jobs that are available, there will not be a nurse without a job.

   Being a NICU nurse comes with a lot of hard work and commitment. Most nurses expect to work 12-hour shifts while working with four babies at one time depending on how many ill infants there are. These nurses are constantly on the go and have to be prepared to take action in case of an emergency 24/7. Ask any nurse and they would tell you that their sleep schedule is absurd. It’s likely that these nurses work in a hospital setting, but some actually work in clinics, or in the community, providing home care to the more critical patients.

Furthermore, another aspect of being a NICU nurse is being able to be emotionally strong. On average, 40,000 premature infants are born annually in the United States and sadly, there are a handful of babies who don’t make it. My aunt, Lindsey Ellison, has been a NICU nurse for 16 years. The hardest thing she has ever been through was losing her first baby and being able to recover. Even though the baby wasn’t her own, it was her job to save him/her and she poured mounds of hard work and effort to save the baby. When the baby didn’t make it, she carried that heartache around with her for a long time. Years later, my aunt has gone on to save numerous babies and is one of the best.

       The life of a NICU nurse is not attractive to everyone. It’s demanding, including long hours and emotional stress. In spite of this, nursing is a rewarding profession. The ability to help families and save a life makes all the struggles worth it.