5 answers
joseline
Student
Tampa, Florida
1
Question
Updated
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how do you become a neonatal nurse
#nursing #nurse-practitioner #medicine #healthcare Ive always been interested in the medical field!
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5 answers
Estee Hayson
9
Answers
Updated
Estee’s Answer
If you are interested, just go for it and apply! Every hospital has certain requirements and programs. It never hurts to go out there and apply.
Dennis Nolan
Pricing/Contract Manager
85
Answers
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Updated
Dennis’s Answer
How to Become a Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal nurses need confidence as well as skill. Some infants are very tiny and very fragile.
Neonatal nursing units require experienced, adept nurses. However, they utilize some new grads as well. Although one can achieve RN licensure with an associate's or bachelor's degree, the BSN can be better preparation for a neonatal intensive care unit. Some premier hospitals offer residencies to new graduates. They often require the BSN.
These residencies can be competitive in other ways. They may value high GPA, prior experience working with a similar age group, and other honors or areas of service. Whether or not NICU residency is offered at a particular time may depend on the needs of the facility. Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, MultiCare Health System, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital- Stanford are among those that offer an NICU residency at least some of the time.
Sometimes talented students even get some experience in before graduation. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, for example, has a pediatric externship program that could potentially put a student in the NICU (http://www.chkd.org/Careers/Nursing-at-CHKD/Student-Nurse-Externships/).
Neonatal nurses need confidence as well as skill. Some infants are very tiny and very fragile.
Neonatal nursing units require experienced, adept nurses. However, they utilize some new grads as well. Although one can achieve RN licensure with an associate's or bachelor's degree, the BSN can be better preparation for a neonatal intensive care unit. Some premier hospitals offer residencies to new graduates. They often require the BSN.
These residencies can be competitive in other ways. They may value high GPA, prior experience working with a similar age group, and other honors or areas of service. Whether or not NICU residency is offered at a particular time may depend on the needs of the facility. Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, MultiCare Health System, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital- Stanford are among those that offer an NICU residency at least some of the time.
Sometimes talented students even get some experience in before graduation. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, for example, has a pediatric externship program that could potentially put a student in the NICU (http://www.chkd.org/Careers/Nursing-at-CHKD/Student-Nurse-Externships/).
Kerrie Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, CNS-CP, CLNC
Registered Nurse
59
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Kerrie’s Answer
To become a neonatal nurse, you would first have to become a nurse. There are two-year and four-year degree programs, so I would suggest doing research out about local or online programs that best suit your needs to see what the requirements are for getting into nursing school are, as sometimes this is a lengthy process. As you are waiting to get into nursing school, you can finish the prerequisites for undergraduate courses (I completed mine at a local junior college to save a little money before nursing school). You will most likely be required to work as a CNA in a hospital before nursing school, so I would also look into applying for a CNA class and start that as soon as possible, as this will be a great way to get into a hospital to start working, you may find a CNA job on a Pediatrics unit, and you may be able to find a hospital that can help with tuition assistance for nursing school.
After you have graduated from nursing school, usually the neonatal units will hire new graduates or other nurses into a program where they are mentored while taking care of the neonatal patients. If you are already working in a hospital, this may give you the advantage to know about positions opening up, otherwise, you will have to keep your eyes and ears open for positions like this. Depending on where you live these positions may come up often or not very often; usually, neonatal nurses stay in their positions for quite a long time.
After you have graduated from nursing school, usually the neonatal units will hire new graduates or other nurses into a program where they are mentored while taking care of the neonatal patients. If you are already working in a hospital, this may give you the advantage to know about positions opening up, otherwise, you will have to keep your eyes and ears open for positions like this. Depending on where you live these positions may come up often or not very often; usually, neonatal nurses stay in their positions for quite a long time.
Melissa Haltom, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
29
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
There is more than one answer as it depends on the type of program you are interested in, and where you go. To be a neonatal nurse: the requirement is to become as RN (registered nurse).
Here is the shortest path to be an RN:
The minimum education is an associates degree in nursing (ADN), offered in some community colleges.
Each program will have different prerequisite courses (courses you must take prior to being accepted into the program in this case). Making an A will increase your chances of being accepted into the nursing program.
The ADN RN programs are varying lengths depending on the school. Usually 4 semesters.
After completing the associates degree in nursing you are eligible to take the state board. When you pass, you will be a registered nurse and can work anywhere as an RN- even in the neonatal department.
You can then choose go back to school to get a bachelors (how long it takes depends on the college and how many college credits you can transfer- the information will be on the website), masters (lengths of programs vary), and doctorate (varying lengths) if you wish.
This is the cheapest way to do it.
I received my ADN at a community college and started working as an RN in a hospital.
Most hospitals have tuition reimbursement. I was able to work and complete my BSN online, and the cost was totally reimbursed... free.
Then I received my MSN FNP in which I also received tuition reimbursement. Those classes are more expensive so I had some expenses.
Here is another path to become an RN:
Some people graduate from high school and go to a 4 year university and get a BSN and RN (after passing the state board) when they graduate. This is a lot more expensive. Plus, you aren’t making money until the end ... and then you typically have a LOT of student debt to pay off.
A lot of high school students dwell on the amount of time it takes to get a degree, but in the end it matters very little.
The time will come and go. Ask yourself if you want a degree when you get to the end of that time period, or will you get there and regret never starting.
Anyway- good luck to all of you who are thinking about this wonderful and challenging career. It’s worth it, and if you have a passion for this type of work, your future patients need you to get started!
You are worth the time and energy to achieve your own goals ;)
Melissa
Here is the shortest path to be an RN:
The minimum education is an associates degree in nursing (ADN), offered in some community colleges.
Each program will have different prerequisite courses (courses you must take prior to being accepted into the program in this case). Making an A will increase your chances of being accepted into the nursing program.
The ADN RN programs are varying lengths depending on the school. Usually 4 semesters.
After completing the associates degree in nursing you are eligible to take the state board. When you pass, you will be a registered nurse and can work anywhere as an RN- even in the neonatal department.
You can then choose go back to school to get a bachelors (how long it takes depends on the college and how many college credits you can transfer- the information will be on the website), masters (lengths of programs vary), and doctorate (varying lengths) if you wish.
This is the cheapest way to do it.
I received my ADN at a community college and started working as an RN in a hospital.
Most hospitals have tuition reimbursement. I was able to work and complete my BSN online, and the cost was totally reimbursed... free.
Then I received my MSN FNP in which I also received tuition reimbursement. Those classes are more expensive so I had some expenses.
Here is another path to become an RN:
Some people graduate from high school and go to a 4 year university and get a BSN and RN (after passing the state board) when they graduate. This is a lot more expensive. Plus, you aren’t making money until the end ... and then you typically have a LOT of student debt to pay off.
A lot of high school students dwell on the amount of time it takes to get a degree, but in the end it matters very little.
The time will come and go. Ask yourself if you want a degree when you get to the end of that time period, or will you get there and regret never starting.
Anyway- good luck to all of you who are thinking about this wonderful and challenging career. It’s worth it, and if you have a passion for this type of work, your future patients need you to get started!
You are worth the time and energy to achieve your own goals ;)
Melissa
Yvette Thompson Walker
Registered Nurse
2
Answers
Conyers, Georgia
Updated
Yvette’s Answer
Neonatal nursing is a specialist area in nursing. You will first need to become a Registered Nurse in an accredited program preferably the Bachelor in Nursing degree. You will also need certification in Neonatal Resuscitation and Neonatal Intensive care nursing. You will most likely work in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and It is beneficial to acquire certain amount of clinical nursing in a hospital setting. It is a high paced and high skilled area of nursing in which you will be highly competitive and gain invaluable experience. Good luck and go for it especially if you love to look after babies.