I want to be a NICU/PEDI Nurse... question

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU/PED Nurse.

First- I don't even know where to post this- LOL If this isn't right maybe I can move it later to where its supposed to go... ???

:clown:I want to be a NICU/PEDI Nurse with all my heart.:redpinkhe Schooling is going to take me a long long LONG time! What would any of your guesstimate [the ones who have already gone through schooling] that it would take me-:uhoh21: I have to do less than part time b/c I am working f/t and I am a single mom. So I am really planning on it taking me like 8 years...:crying2: :bugeyes: which is a really freaking long time- and it may even take longer than that- so for the ones who already have gone through it -any ideas? Suggestions? :confused:

Thanks so much!

~Audrey

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

Well it will take as long as it takes to get the RN. There are hospitals that will hire new grads in specialty units such as NICU. Peds hospitals will also hire new grads.

So it takes what it takes based on how many classes you are taking and what is required.

If you want to get in the NICU I highly recommend making sure your GPA is very high though.

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU/PED Nurse.
Well it will take as long as it takes to get the RN. There are hospitals that will hire new grads in specialty units such as NICU. Peds hospitals will also hire new grads.

So it takes what it takes based on how many classes you are taking and what is required.

If you want to get in the NICU I highly recommend making sure your GPA is very high though.

Right now I have only taken 3 classes- [English 111- College Comp 1, Sociology and Pre-Algebra] but my GPA is 3.5 right now... I know I need to keep it up- if it does slip I could lose financial aid. This semester I will be taking English 112 and Psychology... I still need Algebra and then Chemistry and I think after that I can try to get into the Nursing Program... Hope so anyway! :lol2: But yea- I have a LONNNG ways to go yet!:uhoh21:

Thanks for commenting though.

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I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but....

I'm also a mom (4 kids), I dream of working in the NICU someday and by the time it's all said and done, it would have taken me 11 years to finish school. And that's all for nursing, no switching majors or anything. That's also with one loooong 5 year break to let my kids get a little older.

It'll get done when it gets done. :wink2:

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU/PED Nurse.
I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but....

I'm also a mom (4 kids), I dream of working in the NICU someday and by the time it's all said and done, it would have taken me 11 years to finish school. And that's all for nursing, no switching majors or anything. That's also with one loooong 5 year break to let my kids get a little older.

It'll get done when it gets done. :wink2:

It does make me feel better- LOL thanks so much for sharing that with me- and you are right -it will take as long as it takes! And I am not giving up- it would be awesome if in the future we are NICU nurses:nurse: together....:lol2: YAY! You keep at it too! GOOD LUCK!:D

:redbeatheAudrey

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I am a married mom of 1 and I also work full-time as well. I took two classes at a time (but my schedule got kinda messed up when I got pregnant with my daughter...took a little time off). I am going into my second semester of Nursing and at this point, I have been in school for 4 years...when I graduate, it'll be 5 1/2 years.

Are you going for ADN or BSN? I am going for ADN, so what may take some 2 years will take me 5 1/2 , but I too was prepared for that and as long as I reach my dream one day, it's all good!

Good luck!

Lori

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU/PED Nurse.
I am a married mom of 1 and I also work full-time as well. I took two classes at a time (but my schedule got kinda messed up when I got pregnant with my daughter...took a little time off). I am going into my second semester of Nursing and at this point, I have been in school for 4 years...when I graduate, it'll be 5 1/2 years.

Are you going for ADN or BSN? I am going for ADN, so what may take some 2 years will take me 5 1/2 , but I too was prepared for that and as long as I reach my dream one day, it's all good!

Good luck!

Lori

To be honest I don't really know- I haven't thought that far in advance- LOL I just want to get through the prereqs and then consider my options when I get that far... LOL Which is better do you think? Or does that really matter- Is one more preferred for NICU RN's? I'm just getting started with this- so I don't know much about it- sorry- and thank you for help! I def need it! LOL

:redbeatheAudrey

Ps. Good luck to you too! I'm divorced so take advantage of the help you can get from your hubby! I wasn't lucky enough to have any help from my exhusband- and I don't get child support either- I'm blessed though to have my mom help me with my daughter- who is 8 now! I can't believe how big shes gotten- anyway I'm blabbing- GOOD LUCK HUN! KEEP ME POSTED TOO ABOUT YOUR STUFF! So ican learn from you too! LOL

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

The nursing program I went to had a part time option, it took 4 years for students to complete. I am familiar though with a number of students from both the part-time and full-time program that went straight into NICU or peds. Good luck!

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To be honest I don't really know- I haven't thought that far in advance- LOL I just want to get through the prereqs and then consider my options when I get that far... LOL Which is better do you think? Or does that really matter- Is one more preferred for NICU RN's? I'm just getting started with this- so I don't know much about it- sorry- and thank you for help! I def need it! LOL

:redbeatheAudrey

Ps. Good luck to you too! I'm divorced so take advantage of the help you can get from your hubby! I wasn't lucky enough to have any help from my exhusband- and I don't get child support either- I'm blessed though to have my mom help me with my daughter- who is 8 now! I can't believe how big shes gotten- anyway I'm blabbing- GOOD LUCK HUN! KEEP ME POSTED TOO ABOUT YOUR STUFF! So ican learn from you too! LOL

Well, ADN is an associates degree (which is a 2 year degree). BSN is an Bachelors degree (4 year degree). Usually ADN is offered at a community college and BSN is at a university.

I did all my pre-req's first and then started the program, so now I am only taking my 1 nursing class per semester! Talk to someone there and find out what you need to do to be accepted to the program or how that works(such as testing/GPA/etc...) That should give you an idea as well.

Thanks!! My daughter is 3 and my husband helps when absolutely necessary (which boils down to mainly when I have class). The rest of the time she is mine! Makes it difficult with a 3 year old, but I did it last semester...I'll do it again!

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Specializes in NICU.

I am starting nursing school this fall (finally!) I started college when my daughter was 1 and started taking 1 to 2 classes a semester including summer session. When all is said and done it will have taken me almost 6 years to earm my associates in nursing. I know it will be well worth the long ride.

Do not worry! Time will fly by. Good luck!

By the way, NICU is what my heart is set on too!:redbeathe

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To be honest I don't really know- I haven't thought that far in advance- LOL I just want to get through the prereqs and then consider my options when I get that far... LOL Which is better do you think? Or does that really matter- Is one more preferred for NICU RN's? I'm just getting started with this- so I don't know much about it- sorry- and thank you for help! I def need it! LOL

:redbeatheAudrey

I just wanted to comment about this. At my school, there is no part time option for the nursing program. Classes are scheduled for you. Clinicals are scheduled for you. There is no picking the classes at times when they work best for you. It's all given to you and you have to work everything else around them. I know all schools aren't like this, so that might be something you should check into when deciding what to do next. Also, different schools require different prerequisites and BSN requires more than ADN. I just wanted to make sure that you are aware of these things.

I also wanted to say that I have a lot of admiration for what you are doing. I wanted to go back to school for years before I actually did it. I was a single mom and couldn't figure out a way to make it work. It wasn't until I got married and had the extra help and income that I was able to do it. I wish you the best!

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU/PED Nurse.
Well, ADN is an associates degree (which is a 2 year degree). BSN is an Bachelors degree (4 year degree). Usually ADN is offered at a community college and BSN is at a university.

I did all my pre-req's first and then started the program, so now I am only taking my 1 nursing class per semester! Talk to someone there and find out what you need to do to be accepted to the program or how that works(such as testing/GPA/etc...) That should give you an idea as well.

Thanks!! My daughter is 3 and my husband helps when absolutely necessary (which boils down to mainly when I have class). The rest of the time she is mine! Makes it difficult with a 3 year old, but I did it last semester...I'll do it again!

ADN -then. Its a two year program at Piedmont that they offer....

Yea I think it would have been harder for me too when my daughter was 3- she's 8 now!!!!:eek: LOL I can't believe how time flies- enjoy every single moment that you have your daughter! I miss mine so much- and I miss that stage in her life- but I embrace every moment of her life and each day I learn something new from her. LOL I had her when I was 20- and while that is not too young- I still feel like we have "grown up" together. LOL But I love it- I love being her mom. Best Job in the world!!:redpinkhe Good luck this semester! And I know you will do great!!! :loveya:

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