Why I Want to Become a Neonatal Nurse

¶ … Neo-Natal Nurse

I want to become a neo-natal nurse for a number of reasons. First, there is a great need for nurses in our country, and I would like to help fill this need. I would like to work in the neo-natal field especially because I love taking care of children, and I really want to make my life mean something, and help make a difference in the world. I think that by being a neo-natal nurse, I can reach more people and help them, and I can have a fulfilling career and life, knowing that I am helping other people.

I know that neo-natal nursing is a relatively new specialty, and that is another reason I am interested in becoming a neo-natal nurse. I believe the first 28 days of life are some of the most important developmentally, and that children with health problems, birth defects, and other birthing problems are the most vulnerable during this time. I think that my love of children could help me be loving, caring, and committed to these babies, and I would really like to help them through their most difficult and demanding time in life. For this reason, I would like to specialize as an Intensive Care neo-natal nurse, or as a physician's assistant in private practice.

In addition, because I am a black female, I feel that I could relate to black babies in areas where there are few black nurses, and I feel this would be a help to the families, as well. As of 2003, only 4.9% of nurses in the United States were African-American, and the number of neo-natal black nurses is even smaller. I feel I have much to give to the field, and could help create an environment that was more supportive for children and their families in the black community.