Neonatal Nursing

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Neonatal nursing is a field of nursing designed especially for both newborns and infants up to 28 days old. The term neonatal comes from neo, "new", and natal, "pertaining to birth or origin”. Neonatal nurses are a vital part of the neonatal care team. These are trained professionals who concentrate on ensuring that the newborn infants under their care are able to survive whatever potential life threatening event they encounter. They treat infants that are born with a variety of life threatening issues that include instances of prematurity, congenital birth defects, surgery related problems, cardiac malformations, severe burns, or acute infection. Neonatal care in hospitals was always done by the nursing staff but it did not officially become a specialized medical field until well into 1960s. This was due to the numerous advancements in both medical care training and related technology that allowed for the improved treatment and survival rate of premature babies. According to the March of Dimes, one of every thirteen babies born in the United States annually suffers from low birth weight. This is a leading cause in 65% of infant deaths. Therefore, nurses play a very important role in providing round the clock care for these infants, those born with birth defects or other life threatening illness. In addition, these nurses also tend to healthy babies while their mothers recover from the birthing process. Prior to the advent of this specialized nursing field at risk newborn infants were mostly cared for by obstetricians and midwives who had limited resources to help them survive (Meeks 3). What are the qualifications of a neonatal nurse? It goes without saying that the primary quality needed is a deep sincere desire to care for ba... ... middle of paper ... ...Cited "Nursing Salaries and Career Opportunities." All Nursing Schools. All Star Directories Inc., Web. 28 Feb. 2011. . "Become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner." All Nursing Schools. All Star Directories Inc., Web. 14 Feb. 2011. . "Neonatal Nurse Careers." Nursing School Degrees. Nursing School Degrees, Web. 16 Feb. 2011. . "National Association of Neonatal Nurses." National Association of Neonatal Nurses. National Association of Neonatal Nurses, Web. 18 Feb. 2011. . Meeks, Maggie. Nursing the Neonate. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2010. Print. Langley, Erica. Personal interview. 19 Feb. 2011.

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