NICU Nurse Job Description
NICU nurse jobs are available through hospitals and healthcare centers nationwide. This top career is constantly growing and new positions are opening up daily which makes it one of the fastest growing careers that are in very high demand. The NICU nurse job description has various elements in it including care of premature and sick newborns, treatment of various conditions of these newborns and educating parents and other family members on the specialized care of the newborn, both while the baby is in the NICU and after they go home. The NICU nurse jobs are a high stress, faced paced positions where you must be on your feet all day, and always be aware of any complications that may arise as well as how to handle any complications successfully in an instant. While there is generally a NICU doctor on site at all times, this doctor may need a break to eat or sleep, which is when the NICU nurse must be ready to administer lifesaving measures to ensure the safety of the infant.
NICU Nurse Job Description
One of the main parts of the NICU nurse job description is the basic care of premature and sick infants. The NICU nurse must have extensive knowledge on how to successfully bath, feed and diaper these newborns that are usually extremely fragile. Some may require a feeding tube which is a tube that is inserted either in the baby’s bellybutton or nose and goes to the stomach. The nutrients that are required for healthy growth in newborns is then administered through this tube, eliminating the need for the baby to wake up for a bottle or to nurse. In addition, babies who have had various types of surgeries, such as hernia operations or intestinal operations which are very common in premature births, require special ways to put diapers on so the diaper does not disturb or infect the incision. The NICU nurse job description includes ways to properly place the diaper on these babies without discomfort or risk of infection.
All babies who are in the NICU have a specialized treatment plan which the NICU nurse must follow exactly. This is one of the main parts to the NICU nurse job description. They must be able to successfully administer medication without any type of mistake. If the medication is off at all, it can be fatal to an already very fragile baby; although, when done perfectly, it can save the newborns life. Another part of NICU nurse jobs is that they must be ready at all times to resuscitate a newborn if they stop breathing for any reason and also to prep the baby for any tests or surgeries they may need.
Education of Parents
Another feature of the NICU nurse jobs is that before the parents can handle their new, fragile baby, they must be aware of any issues that may arise. The nurse must delicately tell the parents the prognosis, and then advise them how to handle their baby. The NICU nurse job description also includes that they teach the new parents the special needs of the premature or sick baby, this can be specialized feeding schedules, how to bath them and even how to hold them. This will promote safety for the baby not only in the NICU, but after they go home as well. If you want to be a part of the NICU nurse job description, enroll in college today.
