Are there any online courses?

[majoty]

Hey!

I have ALWAYS been interested in NICU nursing. In fact, that is why I became a nurse to begin with! I graduated back in 1994 in Canada and moved to the US over 9 years ago. I have been working in maternal nursing Newborn/mother-baby and really want to move towards NICU. I just recently had to take my NCLEX again (long story with immigration laws and visas) but now I feel as that if I can do THAT again after 12 years I CAN do this! Does anyone know of any online courses or certification course I could take? I can't seem to find anything! I know a lot is learned directly on the job but it would be nice to have a certification course behind me! I am looking for something online with maybe some clinical hours at a local hospital. However, if anyone knows of any options open in North Carolina (Charlotte) area I would really appreciate the information!!

Thanks so much!

Jodi

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

The only certifications I know of are the NICU CCRN and NICN/RNC by NANN. Both of these require either 2 yrs and 2000 hours of bedside NICU nursing. I'm planning on going for mine next year. It would be hard for you to grasp anything related to critically ill neonates without seeing them firsthand. Like you said, it's something you learn on the job. If you can attend a few neonatal nursing conferences you might pick up some info, but that won't make you any more marketable to a NICU than you are right now. I would look around for a NICU who will take you with what you have now. UNC Chapel Hill is excellent.

NICUniversity.com and Medscape nursing have lots of NICU/neonatal related CEU courses that are free. They might interest you!

Best of Luck!

Stevern21