What do neonatal nurses do?
Neonatal nurses work in a neonatal intensive care nursery (NICU). Most of their work involves caring for the premature babies, who may have been born as early as 23 weeks' gestation (full term is 40 weeks). These babies require help with their breathing and will be nursed on a ventilator. They will be in hospital for four to five months.

How do I become a neonatal nurse?
You can work in a NICU once you have completed your degree at university and become a registered nurse. While not compulsory in Queensland, it is advisable to study for a further 12 months to gain a certificate in midwifery, which will help you to better understand a lot of the problems that babies in the NICU will have. For more information on postgraduate course availability in this area, click here to go to the further education section.

What else can I do as a neonatal nurse?
The next area of study is the neonatal intensive care certificate which is a 12 month, hospital-based course conducted at the Mater Mothers' and Royal Women's Hospitals in Brisbane. Nurses with this qualification also travel by helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft (RFDS) or road ambulance to retrieve sick or premature infants so they can be transferred from a regional hospital to a major, tertiary hospital. Neonatal nurses also care for the families of infants as they are often separated while the child is in Brisbane, and may need assistance from a social worker or a physiotherapist.