A Day in the Life of the Hospital Nursery
Nursery, the only part of a hospital that doesn’t smell of medicines, the place where the cries are not related with pain; it is where the new life that has come to earth is taken care of. Hospital Nursery is where the new born babies are taken care of after they are born. After the baby is born, he is taken to the nursery where he is kept for one to two hours, till he becomes warm and stable.
If you’ve decided that a job as a nurse in the hospital nursery is the job for you, you’ve chosen a career that is both rewarding and noble. But wouldn’t you like to know what your day on the job would look like first?
What goes on in a nursery? In the nursery, the baby undergoes a thorough medical examination, by a Pediatrician and a Nursery Nurse. The baby is kept warm to bring his body temperature to normal since neo- natal babies will have low body heat as the heat is used for the functioning of the vital organs. The baby is kept there till he can maintain a temperature of 98degress on his own.
The nurse will make sure that the baby is not hypoglycemic, that is low blood sugar levels. For this blood is drawn from the feet. This is followed by a detailed body examination to find any visible abnormalities. After being satisfied with the physical condition of the baby, an injection of vitamin K is given, which helps in blood coagulation. Tests will be done for PKU and sickle celled anemia. Once the baby reaches the 98degree temperature, he is bathed with a sponge and after nicely wrapping in blankets, he is taken to his mother.
If the mother wants to sleep at night, babies are sometimes sent to nurseries where a nurse will look after him. This is what happens in a level I nursery.
A nursery could have two more levels. The second level is called SCN (Special Care Nursery). This is for babies who have special needs. The babies with special needs are those born premature or having some illness. They are normally kept at the nursery to administer medicines, or IV therapy and to prevent infections. Once the baby becomes stable, he is sent home. The third level is for babies who are critically ill and needs high technology devices to support them. This is known as the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. The babies who are born too premature are kept here.
Who looks after the baby in the nursery? A Pediatrician will examine the baby in a level I nursery and prescribe the shots to be taken after checking the vital functions. A nursery nurse takes care of the baby. While taking care of the baby physically, she will be taking care of the mother emotionally, building a bond between the mother and the baby. A nursery nurse will help the mother in breast-feeding the baby and will get her accustomed to motherhood. So in additional to being a nurse, she plays the role of a counselor, friend and guide to the new mother. A Nursery Assistant will help the nurse in looking after the nursery.
Who can qualify as a Nursery Nurse? To become a Nursery Nurse you should have qualifications in child care like CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education, BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD), or NVQ Level 3 in CCLD. No special qualifications are needed for a Nursery Assistant. Being a nursery nurse is a rewarding career both financially and emotionally.
Nursery, the only part of a hospital that doesn’t smell of medicines, the place where the cries are not related with pain; it is where the new life that has come to earth is taken care of. Hospital Nursery is where the new born babies are taken care of after they are born. After the baby is born, he is taken to the nursery where he is kept for one to two hours, till he becomes warm and stable.
If you’ve decided that a job as a nurse in the hospital nursery is the job for you, you’ve chosen a career that is both rewarding and noble. But wouldn’t you like to know what your day on the job would look like first?
What goes on in a nursery? In the nursery, the baby undergoes a thorough medical examination, by a Pediatrician and a Nursery Nurse. The baby is kept warm to bring his body temperature to normal since neo- natal babies will have low body heat as the heat is used for the functioning of the vital organs. The baby is kept there till he can maintain a temperature of 98degress on his own.
The nurse will make sure that the baby is not hypoglycemic, that is low blood sugar levels. For this blood is drawn from the feet. This is followed by a detailed body examination to find any visible abnormalities. After being satisfied with the physical condition of the baby, an injection of vitamin K is given, which helps in blood coagulation. Tests will be done for PKU and sickle celled anemia. Once the baby reaches the 98degree temperature, he is bathed with a sponge and after nicely wrapping in blankets, he is taken to his mother.
If the mother wants to sleep at night, babies are sometimes sent to nurseries where a nurse will look after him. This is what happens in a level I nursery.
A nursery could have two more levels. The second level is called SCN (Special Care Nursery). This is for babies who have special needs. The babies with special needs are those born premature or having some illness. They are normally kept at the nursery to administer medicines, or IV therapy and to prevent infections. Once the baby becomes stable, he is sent home. The third level is for babies who are critically ill and needs high technology devices to support them. This is known as the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. The babies who are born too premature are kept here.
Who looks after the baby in the nursery? A Pediatrician will examine the baby in a level I nursery and prescribe the shots to be taken after checking the vital functions. A nursery nurse takes care of the baby. While taking care of the baby physically, she will be taking care of the mother emotionally, building a bond between the mother and the baby. A nursery nurse will help the mother in breast-feeding the baby and will get her accustomed to motherhood. So in additional to being a nurse, she plays the role of a counselor, friend and guide to the new mother. A Nursery Assistant will help the nurse in looking after the nursery.
Who can qualify as a Nursery Nurse? To become a Nursery Nurse you should have qualifications in child care like CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education, BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD), or NVQ Level 3 in CCLD. No special qualifications are needed for a Nursery Assistant. Being a nursery nurse is a rewarding career both financially and emotionally.
