I am a college student pursing my Bachelor’s Degree. For the past two months, I have been thinking about changing my major from Hospitality Management and go into Nursing with interest in Neonatal Nursing or Register Nurse-Children. Nursing was a field I had an interest in going into as career. I wanted to help others especially the babies and children.
Nursing was a big form of regret I had inside myself since I graduated from junior college. When I graduated high school in 2009, I didn’t have a plan or talk to someone about my career options. I didn’t have encouragement nor push to go into the field. In the fall of 2011, I started in Hospitality Management at my junior college and finish with an Associates Degree in Fall 2013.
Last semester I continued in the Hospitality Management field to purse a Bachelor’s degree to become an Event Manager, but my job at the event venue made me realized the reality of pursing an passion Event Management. I was not enjoying it.
Next semester, I am planning into pursing my Bachelor’s Degree in the health care field. The reason why I have an interest into Neonatal Nursing is because I was a 1 pound and 8 ounce preemie. I stayed in the Neonatal intensive care unit from August 1990-January 1991.
As a young woman and adult, I want to see what I went though as a preemie and what my parents went though in the eyes of today’s preemies and their parents. As far as Register Nurse- Children, ( I do not know the exact name of the position), I have an interest in the field well.
I know both aspects of fields are very challenging which I like , and I am willing to take it. Which path should I choose, By the way, I take summer classes, so if I take some of my classes in the summer, how many years will it exactly take me to accomplish register nursing or neonatal nursing.
Thank You!
-Brionna
This question was asked in the nursing forum section.
Here is an overview of neonatal nursing:
Lana says
September 17, 2014 at 11:34 amHey Brionna!
Great question! And first I would like to say that is so neat about your birth story. I can definitely see why you want to be a Neonatal Nurse.
First of all, to clarify somethings a neonatal nurse is a registered nurse. So in order to become a neonatal nurse you will have to first apply to a university with a nursing program. After you graduate from nursing school you will have to pass a licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN. After you pass this you will be a licensed registered nurse (RN). After that (since you want to be a neonatal nurse) you will need to apply to a job in a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and here you will be trained on how to be a neonatal nurse.
To get you started in getting your nursing degree, you will need to get a BSN (bachelors in nursing) degree. Typically this takes about 4 years to complete and nursing programs are strict about how you complete their program. You usually start the program with a group of students and you guys will complete the program together as a whole….it is not individually like most degree programs and you have to stick to their academic program (meaning you take what they require at a specific time…you really don’t get to choose). Many nursing schools don’t offer classes during the summer but some may.
Nursing is an EXCELLENT career to go into and NICU nursing is awesome as well. I have provided you will some more information on how to become a neonatal nurse and how much money you could expect to earn.
What is a Neonatal Nurse? https://www.registerednursern.com/neonatal-nurse-what-is-a-neonatal-nurse/
NICU Nurse Job Information: https://www.registerednursern.com/nicu-nurse-nicu-nurse-job-description/
Job Search for Neonatal Nurse Jobs in Your Area: https://www.registerednursern.com/nursing-jobs-rn-jobs-registered-nurse-job-openings/
Brionna says
September 17, 2014 at 12:39 pmThank You Lena, for the response back. I have 5 questions to ask you.
1. What do you call a Register Nurse that focus on children?
2. Can I take my prerequisites at my current university; then attend a university that has a nursing program? Or is it best for me to take it at a university that has a nursing program?
3. What advice do you give to aspiring students who get discouraged, but want to go into nursing?
4. How strict is nursing school?
5. What do you mean nursing school has a specific time?
Lana says
September 17, 2014 at 6:00 pmYou’re very welcome! Thanks for getting back! I will try to help you out with those questions.
1.) A registered nurse who works with children is known as a Pediatric Nurse and here is a great article on pediatric nursing: https://www.registerednursern.com/pediatric-nurse-how-to-become-a-pediatric-nurse/
2.) Absolutely! Many people do this all the time. Just make sure you review the university that you plan to attend for nursing schools pre-reqs to make sure you are taking the correct courses. You should be able to transfer those credits.
3.) It is completely normal to get discouraged. I have been a nurse for 6 years and during nursing school I got discouraged HUNDREDS of times and actually almost quit. I knew that many of my friends went through the same thing. I think as humans when we tend to get discouraged, we want to do the easiest thing which is usually quitting. But don’t give in and know what you are experiencing is normal and everyone else is having discouragement too.
4.) Nursing school is strict in that it requires you to get good grades and is competitive. You will always want to do your best. It requires to you work hard and give 100%.
Here is a video of a nurse talking about how hard nursing school is. I recommend you check Sarah’s video channel out because it will help you with nursing school.
5.) I meant that each semester you have to take what the programs requires specifically. For instances, you can’t put off taking pharmacology one semester because you are having to take pathophysiology. If the programs requires you take both classes in the spring at the same time, you must do this in order to progress to the next semester. I hope that clarifies that.
Brionna says
September 19, 2014 at 4:08 pmThank You, and it does.