ASN in Neonatal

[Dr3am2baNICUNurs3]

Hello everyone,

I am currently a freshman in college pursuing to be a registered nurse. Recently I have been thinking about pursuing an Associate's degree instead of a Bachelor's degree and I really want to specialize in the NICU/Women's Health field. My question is will I still be able to work in the NICU/Women's Health area (preferably NICU) with an Associate's degree if I decide to pursue it?

Thanks!

[LoveANurse09]

yes, most hospital accept associate's degrees. Just pass NCLEX!

[Pmkn10RN]

The hospital I work at now and the one I'm hoping to work at when I graduate both require a BSN for their NICU fellowship program. Go for the BSN if you're able to.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The NICU and PICU at the hospital where I work also prefer BSN's when they hire new grads -- but they make exceptions if the person has some special experience in their backgrounds -- and they will hire ADN's if they are experienced nurses.

But their new grad internships are mostly BSN's who have done senior year preceptorships in a related clinical area or who have worked as nursing assistants in a related area.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

The problem you will find is that the larger hospitals, ones with NICUs, are all trying for Magnet status. That means they want the majority of staff to have a BSN and are not hiring anyone new unless they do. I'm not saying it's true for all hospitals, but I have seen it around here.

[swirlything]

I work in a large NICU. Not only are there ASN nurses there (I was one when I got hired), we also employ LPNs.

[ambroseacoustics]

ADN in regional level 3 NICU for 2 years. NICU is not easy to get into with any degree. Try either volunteering in the unit of obtain one of the ancillary positions in the unit.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Sure. The hospital in my area requires experience first. They want you to work Med/Surg for one year, then they will hire you in Post-Partum, and then Labor & Delivery, and finally NICU. My friend graduated with a BSN and did two extra preceptorships in the NICU at that hospital that she set up herself and they still would not hire her right out of school. She worked Med/Surg a few months and is now in Peds hoping to get into NICU. My other friend works PICU, she got into a new grad program at Lucille Packard Children's Hopsital, she also has a BSN and did a preceptorship and entire summer long at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

[Love_2_Learn]

Our NICU has all RNs of which they are NICU-experienced ASN degree nurses or BSN nurses. No LPNs for our unit. I would strongly suggest that if there is any way possible that you go ahead and get your BSN.

The suggestion to try to work for a hospital on a part-time basis while you are in school is an excellent one. You will have a foot in the door, already be in their system, and this would make hiring you after you graduate easier for the hospital's paperwork, etc. They would most likely give you first dibs on any positions that are open when you graduate too. Try to be a unit secretary in the NICU on Friday and Saturday nights or something like that if you can. Be on your best behavior, don't ever be tardy, and act like each shift you work you are trying to sell yourself as a terrific employee... hard worker, easy going, don't get flustered easily, and don't gossip or complain. Every little thing helps.

Good luck to you!

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Our area is like dawngloves....if it is a magnet facility then only BSN are hired in, no ADN. We think it is stupid since many of the ADN programs still do clinicals at those places.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I agree with Dawngloves. We do actually have 2-3 LVNs working in our level 2 and we have a lot of ADNs, but we are also not a Magnet hospital at this time. A lot of the Magnet ones want BSNs.

[Dr3am2baNICUNurs3]

Thanks everyone for the advice!!! I really appreciate it!! I have decided that I am going to continue to work towards my BSN! Again THANK YOU!