Best Path to Becoming a neonatal nurse

[Nakia_prospective_RN]

to get this thread started, i have my bs in business admin and i am completing my mba with a concentration in finance. i recently started working as a cna. as much crap as people say i enjoy it. i have given it a lot of thought and i am really serious about neonatal care. after the birth of my daughter who was premature i really appreciate the care that was given to her. i would like to be that nurse for another mother and child.

i live in chicago but i am willing to temporarily to wisconsin or indiana. i am looking for the most affordable yet accelerated program within these three states. my requirements are:

- if it has to be a bsn/rn program i am look for 12-16 months

- msn/rn i understand most are three years wish is fine.

any information would be greatly appreciated as well as any other suggestion on how to go about becoming a neonatal nurse.

thank you

nikki

[RLtinker, LPN]

Well if you have a BS then you can go BS to BSN. I am not completlly sure about the details though, but I believe Allnurses has a forum just for that subject. The cheapest program in Indiana is going to be IVY tech, they do have a capus in East Chicago I believe. The drawback of IVY Tech is three fold, 1.) it is competitive 2.) The farthest you can go is a associates, if you want a BSN you have to transfer to a program that has a RN to BSN program. 3) Not all campuses have a nursing programs, in your case Gary and Valparaiso would be the closest. Being an out of state student will also raise the cost of tuition.

With that said why can't you go to a nursing program in Chicago? I would start buy googling Chicago schools. Community colleges typically only go up to ADN. Just a warning you will want to make sure the school is accredited.

[tablefor9, RN]

Can't speak to the BA-BSN/Accelerated BSN...but to be a perinatal nurse:

1. finish nursing school, while volunteering (if you can) in women's health.

2. After graduation, if a position opens up in women & children's take it, if not, then do M/S for a while and get your assessment & triage skills to the competent + level. Join AWHONN, read the required reading list stickied to the top of the OB thread, and keep applying for L&D/OB/Post partum-nursery jobs.

3. Be passionate, work for your goals and it'll happen.

Best of luck to you.

[Nakia_prospective_RN]

Thanks,

I was looking for the quicker program and I know RN programs very by state. Thank you for the information