Just starting out...

Specialties NICU

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Hello! I am just starting out this wonderful nursing journey and generally kept in the pre-nursing student forum until now :) I have a strong desire to become a NNP. No I am not going to ask what schools offer these programs, I know how to use google myself :chuckle I have a program in mind and already emailed the director about it. I am a planner and here is my plan. I am currently enrolled in a AA program for pre-nursing. Then I hope to enroll in a upper-division BSN program and obtain my RN. Then from there the only school in my state offering a neonatal nurse practitioner program offers it as a MSN so thats what I will do then. By then hopefully I can obtain my DNP in neonatalogy (assuming I have enough $ and a program opens up in Florida!)

I am young (started my pre-reqs at 15) so I do think I can obtain all this and more. Also my grades are decent (I go a full scholarship plus books for the next 2 years). Any other tips will be appriciated. :D I am starting to volunteer but there is only one hospital close to me that has a NICU and all volunteer spots are full (although I am still trying to get in!) but a hospital that is closer to me that does not have a NICU has volunteer spots. I guess I will start out there and try to get in at the other place. Hoving my foot in the door in two places would not be to bad! :wink2:

I know the economy is rough and finding a job is horrible right not. Believe me, finding a second part-time job is making me exhausted! Do you think it is wrong to pursue this dream and not research other clinical tracks? I do not believe my mind will change and I will always love the NICU.:)

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Specializes in NICU.

Keep in mind that all schools require at least two years of NICU Level 3 experience. It's unique to NICU, unlike other graduate nursing programs.

There's a list of all the NNP schools as a sticky at the top of this forum.

Welcome to nursing!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery and NICU.

I would recommend being a full time NICU nurse for 3-5 years. The NNPs in my facility that went straight through have all wished they had waited. You gain experience and an education at the bedside that College cannot give you. Also, there is a nationwide NNP shortage, if you are in good standing as an RN in a NICU associated with a university you may be able to get your DNP paid in full if you contract to work for that hospital for a specific number of years.

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