Neonatal Nurses Must Be at the Center of Health Policy Decisions - September 2025

Nurses, particularly neonatal nurses, are critically missing from current global and national health policy debates on issues such as healthcare funding, access, vaccines, public health roles, drug trials, and physician training. The vital contribution of nurses and the urgency of sustaining and developing the nursing workforce must be at the forefront of these discussions.

Elevating nurses, especially neonatal nurses, on the health policy agenda is essential for safeguarding public health. Neonatal nurses care for the most vulnerable, and amid the global maternal and child health crisis, their expertise is urgently needed. Failure to support neonatal nursing will directly jeopardize health outcomes for newborns and children, particularly in the U.S., where neonatal care is nearing decline.

Expanded cuts to Medicaid, reproductive healthcare, and support for women put all women, especially pregnant women and their children, at greater risk.

Restricted care and high costs directly affect pregnant women and their children. Cuts to food and housing assistance mean that many will lack access to basic needs. Rates of low birthweight, preterm birth, and chronic health problems are likely to rise.

With newborns’ health at stake, their needs become more complex and urgent. The education and training of neonatal nurses are demanding, and the future health of the next generation depends on their availability and competence.

The vital role of nurses, particularly neonatal nurses, must be fully recognis

ed in all health policy discussions. Their importance should be highlighted in the media, prominently featured on policy agendas, and strongly emphasised alongside physician shortages. Economic and educational incentives to attract and retain nurses, especially in neonatal care, should be a top priority.