I am a high school junior who will be applying to colleges in the US within the next year and have a few questions. Firstly, I would like to become a nurse. More specifically, a pediatric nurse. There are many options and routes to becoming a nurse. What I know for sure is that I will NOT get an associates degree of any sort, I will get a BS in nursing… or something else.
I am confused because I want to work as fast as I can once I am certified and everything. Is it possible to become a pediatric nurse if I major in Chemistry/Biology/Biochem in college then go to nursing school and become an RN?
Do I then have to go (to college again) to specialize to become a pediatric nurse? Or would I major in nursing as an undergrad then go to nursing school and become an RN? I do not understand if it is extremely important and necessary to major in nursing as an undergrad in college? Could you give me some examples (a few), some “options” and “paths” i could take to become a pediatric nurse?
Thank you,
Melissa
This question was asked in the nursing forum section.
Molly RN says
Hi Melissa,
Many people have this question regarding pediatric nursing and I hope can help clarify things for you. First of all, there isn’t a specific degree for pediatric nursing. In order to be a pediatric nurse, you must first attend a RN program (ADN or BSN which I know you want to do the BSN route). So when you are looking at college in the US, look for programs that have a BSN program. This program will take you 4 years to complete. The first two years will be basic college courses like English, history, math, electives etc. Then the last 2 years will be nursing courses and clinicals. Here is a basic curriculum of a BSN program. Source: I got this from the book “How to Pass Nursing School” by S.L. Page BSN, RN
Sample BSN Curriculum
Freshman
Fall:
*English I (3)
*Chemistry I w/ Lab (4)
*Probability & Statistics (3)
*History I (3)
*Psychology or Sociology (3)
Total Credits: 16
Spring:
*English II (3)
*Chemistry II w/ Lab (4)
*Anatomy & Physiology I w/ Lab (4)
*History II (3)
*Fine Arts of Humanities Elective (3)
Total Credits: 17
Sophomore
Fall:
*Anatomy & Physiology II w/ Lab (4)
*Communications Oral Intensive (3)
*Microbiology w/ Lab (4)
*Physical Fitness & Well Being (3)
*Social Problems Elective (3)
Total Credits: 17
Spring:
*Introduction to Nursing (3)
*Nutrition (3)
*Understanding Cultures & Civilizations (3)
*Fine Arts & Humanities (3)
*Elective (3)
Total Credits: 15
Junior
Fall:
*Foundations of the Nursing Practice (3)
*Health Assessment w/ Lab (4)
*Pharmacology I (3)
*Multi-cultural Nursing (3)
Total Credits: 13
Spring:
*Community Nursing w/ Clinical (5)
*Pathophysiology w/ Lab (4)
*Pharmacology II (3)
*Communications for Health Care Professionals (3)
Total Credits: 15
Senior
Fall:
*Maternity Nursing w/ Clinical (5)
*Pediatric Nursing w/ Clinical (5)
*Medical Surgical Nursing w/ Clinical (5)
*Nursing Theory & Research (2)
Total Credits: 17
Spring:
*Psychiatric Nursing w/ Clinical (5)
*Transition to the Professional Practice (2)
*Senior Preceptor/Practicum (6)
Total Credits: 13
Then after you graduate from nursing school, you will have to take an exam called NCLEX-RN. This is a licensing exam that you must pass in order to work as a nurse. Once you are licensed, (since you want to go into pediatric nursing) you will need to get a job at a hospital on a pediatric unit. They will train you to become a pediatric nurse. After you have worked as a pediatric nurse for a couple of years you can get certification that will earn you credentials as a pediatric nurse.
You can read about the certification here: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/pediatricnursing
You are usually required to have completed so many on the job hours and then you can sit for the pediatric exam. I hope this response helps answer some of your questions! If you have any more don’t hesitate to ask…either I will help you or someone else. There are some really helpful people on here 🙂