Neonatal Nurse
An Air Force neonatal nurse is a medical surgical nurse who works primarily in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As a neonatal nurse, you will assess, plan, supervise and ensure that quality care is given to neonatal patients (ages 0-30 days) with multiple pathologies, including medical and surgical diagnosis. You will attend high-risk deliveries, as well as perform all functions of a medical surgical nurse while managing resources during multiple admissions and discharges. Depending on the NICU to which you are assigned, you may care for infants on high-frequency oscillator ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and assist in neonatal aeromedical evacuation (transport) missions. You will be responsible for using highly specialized equipment; assigning duties to subordinates; and providing psychological, social and educational support to parents and family members. All Air Force neonatal nurses must acquire and maintain certification in basic life support (BLS) and the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP).
