Neonatal Nurse Requirements: Qualifications & Hospital Standards

Requirements for becoming a neonatal nurse are determined by the state you live in and institution for which you work. Typically, neonatal nurses do not require any additional education other than a nursing degree from an accredited institution and a registered nurse (RN) license.

Institution

• Requirements for nurses working with infants vary by health care institution. Every institution has its own set of rules and requirements based on practice skills used to assess a nurse's ability to give medications, intravenous lines and other skills applicable to a nurse's job.

Educational Requirements

• To be a neonatal nurse, the state or an institution that certifies, will determine a nurse's educational requirements. The state nursing board will set the number of hour requirements, if any, during a particular period to maintain a registered nurse (RN) license. There are national certifications that nurses can obtain to demonstrate specialized knowledge in the field, such as neonatal care.

Nursing Programs

• Neonatal nurses, like all nurses, must graduate from a two- or four-year nationally accredited nursing program. After graduation from nursing school, you must take a state-licensing exam. There is no specific test for neonatal nursing. The minimum amount of education required is an associate degree. However, if you wish to obtain a management position, typically hospitals and health care centers will require a bachelor's degree in nursing. You can also further your education with a master's degree.