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Neonatal nursing specialises in the care of babies in their first few months of life — the neonatal period, providing support to both healthy newborn infants and those who require specialised care due to prematurity or other medical conditions. Neonatal nurses are trained to address a wide range of issues that may arise in newborns, such as respiratory difficulties, nutritional needs, jaundice and other medical concerns. They are equipped to provide critical care and interventions to ensure the wellbeing of newborns during the neonatal period.
Neonatal nurses typically work in hospital settings and on neonatal intensive care units, high dependency wards and special baby care units. They may also be called upon to assist in other areas of the hospital, such as the emergency department or during high-risk births in delivery rooms. Additionally, neonatal discharge nurses play a crucial role in the community, by monitoring patients' progress and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure that mothers and babies receive the necessary support after hospital discharge.
Studying neonatal nursing at postgraduate level can lead to Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) status. ANNPs are trained to identify symptoms of conditions such as sepsis, heart disorders or respiratory difficulties, and are often required to make quick clinical decisions. They may also take the lead on procedures like resuscitation, requesting blood work or ultrasounds, while collaborating with other healthcare professionals and nurses, as well as involving families in the decision-making process and ensuring the best care for neonates. This specialised field requires a high level of skill, knowledge and dedication to providing quality care to newborn infants and their families.
Neonatal care presents opportunities for collaboration with a diverse range of healthcare professionals and clinical teams, including dieticians, midwives, paediatricians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, and other children’s nurses, due to its multi-professional nature.
Neonatal Nurse duties include:
Postgraduate neonatal nursing offers registered nurses a tailored pathway to build upon existing clinical experience, while developing advanced skills and experience in various aspects of neonatal care, such as clinical examinations, assessments, interventions and making complex decisions. The pathway equips neonatal nurses for senior positions, where they can take on more autonomy, management responsibilities or leadership roles in clinical practice and in education, training and mentorship.
Studying this discipline at postgraduate level offers the chance to delve deep into the advanced practice role of a neonatal nurse, cultivating a specialised and sought-after skill set. This field is currently experiencing high demand both in the UK and globally, given the shortage of neonatal nurses worldwide.
As a neonatal nurse, you’re embarking on a life-saving mission, directly impacting the lives of infants and families through the compassionate care and support provided by neonatal teams. While neonatal nursing can be challenging, requiring resilience during intense moments and tough decisions, it offers a fulfilling and rewarding career, with good job security and career prospects.
There are several steps to becoming an advanced neonatal nurse practitioner:
1. Complete an undergraduate degree in nursing, specialising in adult nursing, paediatrics or midwifery.
2. Obtain registration as a nurse (RGN/RSCN/RM).
3. Hold a recognised health and social care qualification with QIS attainment
4. Be registered on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register.
5. Acquire a minimum 2–5 years of practical experience in neonatal environment post QIS attainment.
6. Complete a Master of Science (MSc) in Advanced Neonatal Practice.
The primary route into neonatal nursing is an academic one, which involves obtaining a nursing degree at undergraduate level to become a registered nurse. After completing the undergraduate degree and gaining some professional experience, individuals can then pursue further specialisation in neonatal care through postgraduate studies.
In addition to obtaining a nursing degree through the traditional university route, there is the option of enrolling on a Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship (RDNA) programme which you can complete while working.
Options at postgraduate level vary depending on your specific goals, qualifications and experience in neonatal care. It is important to have some experience in this setting when applying for postgraduate neonatal programmes. If you are working as a nurse and want to move into neonatal care, you can ask to be assigned to infants and babies, where you can gain valuable experience which will support your postgraduate application process.
Find out more about nursing specialisms in our guide.
Currently, there are eight postgraduate degrees available at seven universities across the UK, offering longer MSc options to shorter PGDip and PGCert courses. Neonatal postgraduate courses are designed for registered nurses and health professionals, wishing to specialise further in neonatal care.
MSc programmes offer a comprehensive neonatal degree, which will provide in-depth training and skills in neonatal care and focus on the management of complex conditions, research methods and neonatal leadership roles. Course duration is around two to three years. Some MSc programmes offer the option of flexible exit points, meaning you can complete at PGDip level and not write a dissertation or carrying on to complete a full MSc and become an advanced practitioner. There are even options to complete modules as part of your general nursing CPD.
The PGDip programme in neonatal nursing is a specialised postgraduate diploma that focusses on enhancing knowledge and skills in neonatal care. It is shorter in duration, around one year to 21 months and paves the way to becoming neonatal practitioners in clinical settings.
PGCert programmes offer foundational knowledge in neonatal care and can be completed in less than a year. They act as a good stepping stone for anyone wishing to further their career working with neonates or change nursing specialisms, transitioning into neonatal care.
There are several academic routes available at postgraduate level, depending on your qualifications and experience. You can use our university search tool to find the right course and university for you.
Postgraduate Neonatal courses include:
The entry requirements for neonatal MSc degrees typically include:
Meeting these requirements is crucial for individuals seeking to pursue a career in neonatal nursing and enrol on related programmes.
Programmes offer comprehensive curriculums that cover a wide range of topics, including pathophysiology, pharmacology, investigations and procedures, surgical interventions, use of neonatal equipment, end of life palliative care and pain management. Students have opportunities to exercise their clinical judgement in real-world scenarios during work placement in clinical practice.
Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and simulations, which aim to enhance practical skills and critical thinking abilities in a controlled environment, preparing students for hands-on-experience in neonatal care settings, where they can apply theory to practice.
What modules will I study?
Module names vary depending on course or institution, but you can expect cover the following:
How will I be assessed?
Assessments in neonatal nursing are designed to evaluate students’ knowledge, skills and competencies in advanced practice.
Postgraduate neonatal nursing can open up opportunities in clinical, managerial, research or educational settings. Advanced practitioners can specialise in areas like neonatal nutrition, transport or development. Career progression for advanced neonatal nurse practitioners often involves pursuing further education, such as a Doctor of Nursing (DNP) or a PhD in Nursing, to enhance knowledge and expertise in the field.
Neonatal nursing careers include:
Transferable skills
Professional accreditation in neonatal nursing typically begins with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a practising nurse. To undertake postgraduate studies in neonatal nursing, individuals must be registered with the NMC and have achieved Qualified in Speciality (QIS) status in neonatal nursing or a related field. Graduates can further advance their professional development by mapping it to the Health Career Framework and Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF). The MSc Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner degree is designed in accordance with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) framework for Neonatal Nursing competencies. Completion of MSc programmes accredited by the NHS Centre of Advancing Practice allows you to register in the Advanced Practice Directory, and work as an advanced clinical practitioner in neonatal care.
The Neonatal Nurses Association (NNA) offer scholarships and grants to their members, you can learn more on their site and see what current neonatal scholarships are available. The NHS offer various funding opportunities, such as the NHS Bursary which supports students studying certain healthcare courses such as midwifery, nursing and allied health professions. The bursaries can cover tuition fees and expenses related to the course. The NHS’s Continuing Professional Development funding provides NHS employees the opportunity to pursue higher level qualifications to enhance their skills. You can find out more about NHS financial support on their site. Check out our scholarships page for Medicine, Dentistry and Health to learn more about what scholarships are available. It is also worth emailing the student finance office for the universities you are interested in to find out more about the scholarships, bursaries and financial aid options they have. To learn more about funding, check our ULTIMATE guide to postgraduate funding.
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