NeoNatal Nurse

Nurses Career Support

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I just finished the CNA class this past summer. A requirement for the associate nursing program at my local tech. college is to be a CNA. After I completed the cna class i applied for some jobs at area nursing homes and I did get offered two jobs. Unfortunately I turned both of them down. Working in a nursing home is not something I really want to do. I do want to go onto nursing school so I can become a neo natal nurse however. The beginning of this year I had applied to the nursing program and was taking the anatomy and physiology class but decided to drop out completely and take my name off the list for the nursing program. I feel like in order for me to pursue nursing I have to at least work in a nursing home for a couple of years. Is this really true? I do really want to become a neo natal nurse however I don't want to work in a nursing home. Is it ok to work not in the nursing field while going to school to become a nurse? I'm really debating if I should go back to school to pursue nursing agian.

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Look into applying at a hospital for newborn nursery or neonatal intensive care CNA positions. Some of these units hire CNA's, but the duties vary widely from one place to the next.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

1. You do not have to work in health care before becoming a nurse. Hundreds of thousands of people become nurses without ever having had a job in the health care field before.

2. If what you want to be a nurse ... then go to nursing school. That's how you start.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I worked for an Insurance Company and then Pizza Hut when I started nursing school.

If your school requires you be a CNA and you can't get hospital/neonatal nurse job as a CNA, then suck it up in the nursing home because it's only a stepping stone to becoming what you want to. I cooked Pizza, mopped floors and washed dishes 32 to 40 hours a week because it was the only job I could get in a job depressed town that allowed me to go to nursing school. Keep your eye on your goal.

Good luck.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Hi, orchid1986, and welcome to allnurses!:welcome:

I did not have any experience working in the nursing field when I went to nursing school. Probably more than half of the students in my original ADN program had never even touched a patient before they went to nursing school. This is quite common. Don't know where you picked up an idea that working with patients might be necessary to pursue a nursing career. That is just not true. Yes, it is OK to work in another field while going to nursing school. While I was in my first year of nursing school I continued to work as a bookkeeper because my boss let me work special hours. It was only until my last year of nursing school that I decided to get a job as a nursing assistant because it fit in with my school schedule much better. Go ahead and pursue your nursing education. Do whatever work you need to pay your bills and living expenses. Look at nursing school as preparation for a new career because that is what it is.

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

It is rare that your school requires you to work anywhere in order to go to school. What is you just don't want to work at all, and focus on your school work? I have never heard of making students get a job. If they do, then hopefully they cut you a break on coursework. Anyway, there are plenty of CNA jobs not in nursing homes. Work at your local hospital. If you ahve to work with adults for a while it is not a big deal. When you graduate then work where you want.

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