Career Advice -- Starting Out

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Hi,

I'm new to the board, and I'd appreciate any help in my quest here.

I'm looking to get into the nursing field, particularly pediatric nursing. I am currently a school teacher here in Connecticut for infants -- I also have worked with 2-3 year olds in this position. I love children and caring for people, so I believe this is the right fit for me. I have a high school degree and I've taken a few community college courses and have some other training for early childhood development. I'm currently 24 years old.

I have very little info on the required path to attaining this position, but this site seems like a great place to start.

My questions are:

1) What certifications/degrees do I need?

2) Are there different levels of pediatric nursing? And required additional training?

3) What steps along the way will allow me to work in the field as I work towards the pediatric nursing position? I'm faily certain I could get LPN certification and begin working while taking further classes to progress from there. Next I think would be the RN, but where do I go after there?

4) Any info on schools in CT and MA for all aspects of this journey would be appreciated. For example, do non universities get ranked? Should I be looking at a community college or a specialized school?

Thanks in advance. I really look forward to getting involved.

Crystal

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Schools and different states have different requirements.

Your first step may be to check schools in your area that offer nursing degree, either LPN or the BSN which is the 4 yr track. You can get your LPN then get your BSN. Or you can do the BSN straight through.

Check out this site below, and look under 'How' under 'Nursing Program Search' and look for schools in your area that offer degrees and check out their programs and requirements.

http://www.discovernursing.com

Hi,

I'm new to the board, and I'd appreciate any help in my quest here.

I'm looking to get into the nursing field, particularly pediatric nursing. I am currently a school teacher here in Connecticut for infants -- I also have worked with 2-3 year olds in this position. I love children and caring for people, so I believe this is the right fit for me. I have a high school degree and I've taken a few community college courses and have some other training for early childhood development. I'm currently 24 years old.

I have very little info on the required path to attaining this position, but this site seems like a great place to start.

My questions are:

1) What certifications/degrees do I need?

2) Are there different levels of pediatric nursing? And required additional training?

3) What steps along the way will allow me to work in the field as I work towards the pediatric nursing position? I'm faily certain I could get LPN certification and begin working while taking further classes to progress from there. Next I think would be the RN, but where do I go after there?

4) Any info on schools in CT and MA for all aspects of this journey would be appreciated. For example, do non universities get ranked? Should I be looking at a community college or a specialized school?

Thanks in advance. I really look forward to getting involved.

Crystal

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