Top 7 Neonatal Courses For Nurses

Read this blog on the top 7 neonatal courses for nurses and you will find out the benefits of having a neonatal nurse around especially if you are a nursing mom or you have a baby who will be put to bed soon.

First of all, the neonatal nurse is as important as the medical doctor in the theater. A newborn baby has many needs that should be taken care of as he or she is born. This is because a newborn child is fragile and susceptible to a lot such as diseases, and prematurity. The baby is likely to show the effects of these situations when they are not properly taken care of.

Neonatal nursing is a subdivision of nursing that covers the care and attention that is showered upon newborn infants who are born with different problems ranging from prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems.

The neonatal period of a child is defined as the first month of life. When the situations surrounding newborn infants are not taken care of, beyond the neonatal period, these newborns are often sick for months. 

Neonatal nursing fundamentally consists of the care that is given to newborn children who experience problems shortly before birth. It also includes the management and treatment that are given to infants who experience long-term problems related to their prematurity or illness after birth.

What Are Neonatal Nursing Courses?

Neonatal nursing courses are a list of selected medical/nursing courses that exposes and describes the roots of different problems ranging from prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems that newborn children are faced with at birth.

These neonatal courses are not reserved for nurses only, but for nursing mothers too, as well as books to read during pregnancy to help them through the journey of motherhood. This is because the courses teach child care and management. And, they will be a great tool that is used to engage nursing mothers who have little knowledge of how to take care of their babies.  

Benefits Of Neonatal Courses For Nurses

Taking neonatal courses for nurses is quite beneficial to every medical professional out there especially pediatric doctors, midwives, nurses, and gynecologists so that there will be fewer deaths of newborn infants and their mothers.

The benefits of Neonatal Courses For Nurses are:

They offer newborn infants a great opportunity to live

A neonatal nurse has the role of providing fragile newborns who may have respiratory illnesses, cardiac problems, infections, and other life-threatening conditions with specialized care.

Since they work as part of a medical/nursing team, neonatal nurses help these newborn infants to overcome huge obstacles, by giving them the care they need until they are strong enough to go home. The neonatal courses for nurses have been arranged in sequence to ensure this when they are offered.

Neonatal nurses earn huge pay with free travel plans

Neonatal nurses are in great demand everywhere around the world. This allows them to be exposed to short-term travel to perform nursing assignments in different countries. Neonatal nurses always earn higher salaries as their roles are huge.  

They also receive additional non-taxable benefits to cover meals, transportation, and housing while working in their chosen city. Taking a course in one of the neonatal courses for nurses is a great way to earn more and have exciting travels around the world.

Parents especially nursing parents learn specialized care skills

As babies begin to transit from the level of being a newbie to a higher level, the type of roles taken for them is different. Not to mention the fact that they would be craving their parents’ presence more. These babies gain weight, breathe and eat and take care of little activities of this sort on their own. 

Through the aid of the neonatal courses for nurses that have been offered by neonatal nurses, she prepares families to take their children home. The records in the journal Neonatal Network confirm the excitement and fear of parents at this point. This is because they solely go about the care and management of their babies who have been under the watchful eyes of NICU (Nursing Intensive Care Unit) staff since birth.

During this important transition period, parents learn a lot of new roles about neonates’ care and treatment such as how to administer medicine, oxygen, tube feedings, and other therapies in the way they are needed. These neonatal courses for nurses help build the parents’ confidence as they can go through this phase with their babies successfully.

The neonatal nurse becomes trusted support to the family concerned 

Not to say the least, the neonatal period can be a challenging period for the newborn infant, his parents, and the neonatal nurse. Before the start of that phase, the parents of the newborn infant come to terms with having a child in the NICU.

This is very painful for parents as they are overwhelmed by fear, depression, anxiety, and guilt.

They would need someone to lean on to assure themselves that they are doing the right thing for their baby. They would need a shoulder to cry on as they struggle to cope too. 

A neonatal nurse works hand-in-glove with such parents, providing support and giving assistance to those who have a child in the neonatal intensive care unit in the future weeks. The neonatal courses for nurses provide the knowledge for the care and assistance to happen smoothly.

Advancing their career

As an experienced and knowledgeable neonatal nurse, your career path can take you toward leadership and mentorship opportunities and help you kick start a career as a family nurse practitioner. The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) outlines several prospects for promotion for neonatal nurses.

They are the position of Nurse Manager, Clinical nurse specialist, Developmental care specialist, and Neonatal nurse practitioner who supervise staffing and administration of a NICU, offer educational assistance to the nursing staff, help meet newborn infants’ developmental needs, and accept increased responding for critical care respectively.

Top Universities For Neonatal Courses

Since neonatal courses can be offered, there are institutions where they can be learned well. Like medical courses, they have special schools where they can be offered.

Those universities are listed below with a link to their websites for easy accessibility.

  • University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing;
  • Vanderbilt University School of Nursing;
  • University of Arizona College of Nursing;
  • University of Texas Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arlington, TX;
  • UMKC School Nursing and Health Studies, Kansas City;
  • College of Nursing – Chicago Nursing School | Rush University, and 
  • University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, CT.

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, is a private university that is ranked first in the list of best pediatric nurse programs in the US and World Report in 2022. The university also offers an accelerated nursing program in which you can enroll and choose neonatology as a focus of study and complete it in a few months.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing undertakes two newborns and MSN neonatal programs. These programs are both on-campus programs.

The Nursing Nurses Master’s program is accessible to Registered Nurses (RNs) with over two years of experience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The one-year program offers courses in high-risk neonatal treatment and theory, pediatric pharmacology, and developmental physiology. 

Tuition fees are $41,134 per year.

Programs: BSN, MSN, neonatal care

Click this link for more info 

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Vanderbilt University in Nashville is a private research university that offers neonatal courses for nurses, leading to a post-master certificate. It was voted number 4 in the list of top pediatric nursing schools, and the School of Nursing ranked number 8 in the national ranking of the academic nursing program in 2022.

Applicants in this institution must have MSN and at least two years of high-risk neonatal experience. Graduates of the program are qualified to work in neonatal, interim, and neonatal intensive care units. This program is offered in a distance-learning format over the weekend and online courses.

Tuition fees is $45,160 per year

Programs: MSN, Doctorate in pediatric nursing

Click this link for more info 

University of Arizona College of Nursing

University of Arizona college of nursing in Tempe is one of the institutions that offer neonatal courses for nurses. This university offers a BSN-DNP program for prospective nurses. 

The BSN-DNP program combines classroom training with hands-on experience in Phoenix medical facilities. This is offered full-time or part-time. Besides, students receive simulated clinical training on the school’s simulation and learning resources.

Students only meet twice per semester to meet the housing requirements. It offers a part-time program that is both online and personal. Admission requires that the applicant is already a practicing nurse. 

Tuition fees is $11,769 (In-state students), $34,967 (Out-of-state students) per year

Programs: RNP, BSN, DNP program.

Click this link for more info

University of Texas Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arlington, TX

The University of Texas-Arlington Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program offers a wide range of neonatal courses for nurses. These courses include online and private lessons, as well as part-time and full-time courses.

Students perform their clinical rotations at their residential places and travel to campus twice during the program to fulfill their housing requirements. Admission proposes the presentation of previous certificates and admission as a current nurse. 

Tuition fees is $19,500 per year.

Programs: BSN, MSN in neonatal care.

Click this link for more info.

UMKC School Nursing and Health Studies, Kansas City

The University of Missouri Kansas City School Nursing and Health Studies – Kansas City program is concerned with the care that is given to newborns and their families during the difficult time they spend in the hospital.

This program teaches courses like kindergarten theory, research, cultural diversity, and more. It ensures that the nurses can take care of any problems they encounter while working in the neonatal ward. It is expected that the aspiring student has the experience and the equivalent of 2 years of clinical training within the last five years as an RN. 

Tuition fees: $20,426 per year.

Program: BSN

Click this link for more info.

College of Nursing – Chicago Nursing School | Rush University

Rush University offers online neonatal courses for nurses with clinical rotations organized on-site for those who have a nursing profession already. Rush University offers one of the best accredited online neonatal nurse programs in the United States. The part-time online program usually takes 2 to 3 and half years. 

Upon graduation, graduates leave school to practice in the normal neonatal, intensive, and intermediate levels. This program is recommended for those who want a comprehensive program that will prepare nurses for all eventualities they might come in contact with.

They have small class sizes which use a study format for the program. Admission mandates that the aspirant has experience in neonatal care. 

Tuition fees: $1066 per credit hour

Program: BSN, MSN

Click this link for more info.

University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, CT

The University of Connecticut offers an online and on-campus program for students. This university offers neonatal courses for nurses. The online program is one popular program that allows students to graduate while attending courses that are innovative and interesting.

The University of Connecticut also offers an accelerated nursing program that you can take to complete your neonatal nursing program faster.

The admission requirements of this institution expect at least two years of experience at a full-time RN level in a neonatal environment. The tuition fee is paid per 3-hour credit.

Programs: Baccalaureate degree, master’s degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program

Click this link for more info.

Top 7 Neonatal Courses For Nurses

Below is a list of the top 7 neonatal courses for nurses:

  • Training course in Neonatology;
  • Neonatal Critical Care (Professional Practice) Course;
  • Assessment of the Newborn Neonatal Course;
  • Nursing and midwifery Neonatal Course;
  • Neonatal Nursing Specialty Course;
  • Neonatal Nursing Extension Certificate Course
  • Nursing Practice Course.
  1. Training Course in Neonatology

This is one of the neonatal courses for nurses that are offered in Unitelma Sapienza, Italy. Admission to the course will be permitted for 12 months from the date of enrolment. After fulfilling the course, the concerned student will obtain a certificate of participation. The course does not approve of credits.

In this course, doctors and nurses obtain a thorough knowledge of illnesses of newborn infants including their management and physiology. They also accomplish clinical competency in acute resuscitation and all the protocols needed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Click here for more info 

  1. Neonatal Critical Care (Professional Practice) Course

This is one of the neonatal courses for nurses offered at Birmingham City University, UK. Once the Foundational Course is finished in neonates, the Critical Care pathway will improve the nurse’s career in neonatal nursing with enthusiasm and skill. This neonatal course for nurses aims to expand your knowledge in clinical practice and physiology. 

This encourages confidence to function as a qualified nurse within the specialty and become a nurse that employers can hire. For British students, it is a part-time course that runs for 30 weeks with tuition fees of £756 per 20-credit module. This course is not available for international students.

Click here for more info 

  1. Assessment of the Newborn Neonatal Course

It is one of the online neonatal courses for nurses that are offered at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. This course lasts for two weeks and runs a 3-hour study format weekly. Its tuition cost is $15.83 per month.

In the course, the nurse learns from neonatal expert nurses. The student learns the following:   

– Reasons why neonatal assessment is important; 

– The value of involving parents in neonatal care;

– The perinatal history of a newborn infant;

– Determination of the gestational age, and 

– Assessment of newborn development.

Click here for more info

  1. Nursing and midwifery Neonatal Course

It is one of the online neonatal courses for nurses that are offered in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The program is delivered part-time for over a year; with an option to complete the program for up to three years if necessary. Its tuition cost is €6,875 per year, the €45 NUI fee, and a non-refundable online application fee of €50.

In the course, the nurse learns from neonatal expert nurses. The Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing will educate the aspiring neonatal nurse to take a major role in developing nursing and midwifery, and influencing policy change in professional practice and health service provision.

Click here for more info


  1. Neonatal Nursing Specialty Course

It is one of the online neonatal courses for nurses that are offered at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). This course takes an average of two years to complete. Its tuition cost is $745 or less depending on the module taken

It is the only part-time and advanced neonatal certification program in Canada that is known in the industry for Distance and online learning clinical experiences that are taken concurrently with theory courses. The student is equipped to do the following:   

– Care for infants who are in the first month of their lives and need hospitalization in neonatal nurseries and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); 

– develop the emotional skills to effectively assist infants and their families during this challenging time.

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  1. Neonatal Nursing Extension Certificate Course

This is one of the neonatal courses for nurses offered at Mount Royal University, Alberta, Canada. This online course has four required courses and 210-hour clinical experience. It can be finalized in 1.5 years to up to a maximum of 6 years. 

This neonatal course for nurses aims to expand your knowledge in clinical practice and physiology. Its tuition cost is $835 or less depending on the module taken.

Click here for more info 

  1. Nursing Practice Course

It is one of the online neonatal courses for nurses that is offered at The University of Melbourne, Australia. This practicum course is available to domestic and international students. It is a one-year part-time course.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice equips neonatal nurses with advanced skills and knowledge to give evidence-based care to sick neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The student learns:   

– neonatal conditions associated with preterm birth, congenital anomalies, respiratory diseases, birth trauma, peripartum hypoxia, brain injury, and metabolic diseases;

– the impact of life-threatening illnesses on parents and families, and 

– family-centered care and neonatal developmental care in the NICU environment.

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Top 5 Neonatal Courses For NursesFAQs


  1. What is the job of a neonatal nurse?

A: A neonatal nurse has many responsibilities which start just as the baby is born. The responsibilities of a neonatal nurse include:

  • Examining and supervising the care of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
  • Recording patient history;
  • Overseeing the health of newborn infants experiencing  medical issues relating to birth, such as prematurity or congenital defects;
  • Performing tests and collecting and assessing the results;
  • Giving attention to deliveries and giving care to newborn infants immediately after birth;
  • Running and maintaining the equipment in the NICU;
  • Giving treatment and dispensing medication as prescribed by the NICU physician;
  • Discussing with parents or guardians the care and medical protocols related to their infant, and 
  • Enlightening new parents on the care of their new infant; for example, breastfeeding.
  1. Are there neonatal nursing courses in the UK?

A: Yes.

Needless to say, neonatal courses are offered in many countries of the world, especially in developed and developing countries where there are standard healthcare facilities. Uk is one of the developed countries in the world which have institutions that offer neonatal courses.

  1. Which neonatal nursing courses are online?

A: There are several neonatal courses for nurses that are offered online. A few of them are listed below

 a) Assessment of the Newborn 

It is a 2-weeks online neonatal course that explores the importance of a newborn’s physical (head to toe) assessment, how to conduct it, and discussion of perinatal history, determination of gestational age, and assessment of the newborn development.

b) Infant Nutrition: from Breastfeeding to Baby’s First Solids

A 2-weeks online neonatal course for nurses that explores the nutritional requirements of young children, as well as why healthy food for babies is so essential.

c) Care Home Nursing: Changing Perceptions

A 4-weeks online neonatal course that enhances our knowledge of the skills nurses need to effectively look for aftercare families. This course clarifies the benefits that are seen when home nurses work together with newborn infants.

d) Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners

This 4-weeks neonatal course explains the importance of cancer survivorship and shows how to develop an effective care plan for patients.

The psychosocial and emotional impacts of having cancer and the possible side effects of treatment are explored too.

  1. Is there any certificate course in neonatology?

A: Yes. There has never been a medical-related course without a certificate. The certificate qualifies the graduate to practice anywhere in the world within the field of study.

In neonatology, the advanced certificate in Neonatal Critical Care Course introduces MBBS graduates to the different facets of neonatal critical care which ranges from handling serious concerns to managing respiratory, cardiovascular, and CNS issues in newborn infants.

  1. Are there free neonatal courses online?

A: Yes, there are free neonatal courses for nurses that are offered online. But, there are only a few. The free neonatal nursing courses are self-paced and are learned within an hour. The free neonatal courses for nurses are certified and can be used for CPD.

Let’s all know that neonatal nurses are specifically trained to work in pediatric rather than adult care, and they work with neonates or newborn infant patients. These skilled nurses work with newborn infants and their families in cases in which the newborn’s health requires more than typical newborn care. Neonatal nurses direct their concerns on the vital first four weeks after birth.

Neonatal nurses can be found in hospitals, community-based institutions, clinics, and organizations too. Neonatal nurses function closely with the families of newborn infants to contribute to their interests and offer emotional assistance.

These nursing experts may have any of these career opportunities which may include working as neonatal nurses within a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), as a family nurse practitioner (FNP), neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), or as a registered nurse (RN). 

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