Further studies for NICU

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Hi everyone. I work in a small NICU with level 3 infants. I would like to know if anybody has an idea about how I can further my education and still stay a NICU nurse because I really enjoy working directly with the babies. If I take NNP, I feel like I won't be able to do bedside nursing anymore. Is this true? Is there a masters program that will allow me to continue bedside nursing? I have my BSN already.

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Specializes in NICU.

[h=3]RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC)[/h]

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Aside from the certification, is there a masters degree that would still allow me to do NICU bedside nursing?

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

You can get your NNP and still do bedside. It is your call where you want to work.

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Perhaps look into getting your masters and becoming a nurse manager or assistant nurse manager in the nicu! Some managers do still work the floor. Or a nurse educator for the unit

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I understand. However, I'm pretty sure if I graduated NNP and still do bedside, I'll be held to the highest degree I achieved and still be paid as a staff nurse.

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Perhaps look into getting your masters and becoming a nurse manager or assistant nurse manager in the nicu! Some managers do still work the floor. Or a nurse educator for the unit

I've heard about Neonatal CNS, is that how you become a Nurse Educator for the unit? I've also heard about CNL. I did some reading and I'm afraid I still don't fully grasp the difference between the CNL and CNS. I read somewhere that CNL handles microsystems and CNS handles macrosystems. I got lost when they explained that part in the article.

Can anyone please help me understand?

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

There are a couple of nurses (only a couple though) that have their MSN with education focus. They also function as adjunct professors for some of the local nursing schools. They enjoy it quite a lot; and their scope of bedside practice is unaffected as far as I know. We have had a couple of newer NNPs that weren't ready to let go of bedside nursing and would pick up a PRN shift here and there as bedside staff, but that is not common anymore.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Why become an NNP and do bedside? You will not get the salary of an NNP and you can't function in that scope. Our hospital will not hire NNPs as staff or let them pick up shifts.

I have my master's management but have since returned to bedside. Management was eating me alive and I wanted to work my last few years before retirement working at what I loved most. I also do unit education along side of our CNS.

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Thanks everyone for your input. I really do want to go back to school and get a masters degree. I'm just still confused about which one to take. I asked a friend and she suggested to shadow an NNP/CNS/CNL to help me decide on what to take.

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Specializes in NICU.

Have you completed the NRP and STABLE courses?

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Have you completed the NRP and STABLE courses?

Yes ? it was required when I applied for nicu.

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