when should I do my NICU Residency training

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I'm planning on finishing an ADN degree then taking the NCLEX. I was then planning on getting a bit of work experience before finishing an RN to BSN degree with Mt. St. Mary's.

There is an amazing residency program for RNs at CHOC (near me). They have an amazing NICU I would be lucky to work at, but more to the point, an amazing teaching program for me to learn.

This is in the next couple years but would it be best to wait to do specialty residencies until I complete my BSN?

:)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Will they hire you without your BSN is the question. If they will, then you can do the residency and then go back to school. Theyay have tuition reimbursement you could use to pay for the BSN.

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Specializes in NICU.

CHOP is a Magnet hospital, so the question is whether they will hire you without your BSN.

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It is my understanding that they only hire BSN grads.

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One thing to consider: Some residency programs will not admit people who have already been RNs for more than a few months. I would at least check into that.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

You should do it whenever you get hired. It's not easy getting hired, so you just take what you get.

Most residencies want new grads with no/little experience. You won't be especially competitive at a magnet hospital with an ASN. I also don't think getting your RN then waiting around to become a stale new grad while you get your BSN is a good option either.

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I know CHOC only hires BSN now for new grads.

If you really want NICU at choc. Just find an RN job there meantime and do your BSN

Choc also hires Fellows (experienced RN's that wants to go to pediatric specialties)

I had a coworker who worked for Pediatrics ER and ended up in a fellowship program for NICU.

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