How many hours does a neonatal nurse work?

Typically, neonatal nurses work around 40 hours per week. Most neonatal nurses work shifts that are either 8 hours or 12 hours long. These shifts can be during the daytime, evening, or overnight depending on the location of where they work and their specific availability.

If a neonatal nurse works 8-hour shifts, they often work 5 shifts and then have two days off. As NICUs and hospitals need nurse support every day, this can include weekends and holidays. For 12-hour shifts, they work 3 days a week, but those days may change weekly, monthly, or quarterly.