Neonatal Intensive Care nursing is a specialty of nursing that cares for newborn babies with serious health problems due to premature birth or congenital illnesses. Due to newborns' fragile bodies and systems, as well as the high level of skill needed to care for them, babies in the neonatal intensive care unit require highly-trained health professionals with specific skill sets in order to ensure they can recover and gain enough strength to go home.

Neonatal intensive care nursing usually takes place in a hospital or in a specialized facility that treats newborns. Neonatal intensive care nurses may also work in emergency rooms.

Nurses have to be especially compassionate when taking care of patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. Not only do the babies need gentle care, but nurses have to be prepared to work with the parents and families, who are scared and worried and need comforting, as well. Neonatal intensive care nursing can be emotionally difficult for the care team due to the nature of the job, so nurses must also be able to maintain composure while working and handle the stress that comes from the job.

Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Theories and Models

• Neuman's Systems Model
• Nightingale's Environment Theory
• Pender's Health Promotion Model
• Rogers' Theory of Unitary Human Beings
• Roy's Adaptation Model of Nursing
• Orlando's Nursing Process Discipline Theory
• Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations
• Parse's Human Becoming Theory
• Kolcaba's Theory of Comfort
• Watson's Philosophy and Science of Caring