[victoria00]

hello,
i am only a freshman in highschool, but i am seriously interested in becoming a neonatal nurse. i recently went to my counselor to sign up for classes, and i told her what i wanted to be but she didn't know any classes i could take that would help me. Can someone please tell me some courses or classes i can take in highschool and college to help me become a neonatal nurse?
Thank You

[caliotter3]

Before you can become a neonatal nurse you must first become a nurse and every nurse takes the same courses toward entering and completing nursing school. You will need the college prep courses in high school. Algebra I and II, Chemistry, Biology. If your high school offers Anatomy, then take Anatomy in high school. Go heavy on science and math in high school. In college you will be taking the nursing prerequisite courses which are typically: English Composition (Freshman English), perhaps Chemistry (depending on the program), Biology (as a prerequisite to Microbiology and others), Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, perhaps Nutrition, Human Lifespan Development, Psychology, Sociology. Each program has its own requirements, but most of them follow the above pattern. Some will have a slightly different pattern because you are preparing to enter a BSN program rather than an ASN program (Chemistry mandatory, Nutrition, etc.). Some schools allow you to take a combined anatomy and physiology course, while others require separate anatomy and physiology courses. Just make sure you concentrate on your algebra and science courses now while you are in high school. Good luck in pursuing nursing.

[EricEnfermero]

Does your school offer a Health Care Science or Health Science Technology program - or a Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter? Those are good things to look into, but often those are classes are for juniors and seniors.

Agree with caliotter3, though. The basics (esp math and science) should be the major focus for you now so that you get a strong academic foundation before you head off to college.

[CT Pixie]

I would say definately take Chemistry w/a Lab, Biology (A&P) w/a Lab, and Algebra. Those seem to the be biggest pre-reqs I've seen in schools around here (in Connecticut). Others after that (if available), psychology, Human Growth and Development, any other sciences available like A&P II.

Spanish would be a great help once you get into the nursing field.

The best thing I can tell you is take a look at colleges/universities that you are interested in going to and take a peek at their Nursing program. Check out what their pre-reqs are for being able to apply to their nursing program.

[EricEnfermero]

This is a great thread for our Nursing Career Advice Forum, so I moved it there.