I'm confused if I want to go into nursing? Help!?

[hayleyyelyah]

Hi, my name is Hayley. I got my GED at 16 and started going to LSU at Eunice in Eunice, LA to become an RN. I quickly realized I didn't have a passion for it, I didn't really get excited when I started to think about it because my heart was with animals. But honestly, becoming a vet is basically impossible considering my track record and I had to give up my dream but there's not much I can do. In my state becoming a vet assistant doesn't require a license so I also thought if I ever wanted to pursue it I just could.

But the problem I had was that I don't want to not have a definite career path in place. I started to get to thinking and I realized maybe I just got scared of becoming a nurse. There are so many girls at my school majoring in it and I think it scared me into wondering if I'd be able to get a job. I also wasn't really wanting to work with people, but I've always wanted to work with babies since I was a kid. I started thinking maybe that's why I was considering vet assistant, because I enjoy helping living things that can't help themselves, like animals and small children/babies. So, I've decided to start going to classes again to become an LPN for the time being and in a few years I was going to continue my education once I have a good job in place and go back for my RN degree.

Sorry I was rambling but I thought it would be good if you guys got a good backstory for my questions! So here they are:

1. Do you guys think I'm making a bad decision? I think I was honestly scared because of the amount of girls in the nursing field and it made me get worried about jobs.
   
2. As I mentioned I love babies, so how would working in the NICU or helping doctors deliver work out? Do you get promoted to these positions? How are you able to choose to work with babies? My friend told me you have to become a nurse practitioner to be a NICU nurse, is this true? I would go back to become a nurse practitioner if that's the case.
   
3. Is there any advice you guys have for me?
   

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You don't need to become a nurse practitioner to work as a NICU nurse, so your friend provided incorrect information. In many areas, including parts of Louisiana near where you live, nurses are being hired into NICUs with associate degrees.

Some nurses are hired directly into the NICU as new grad RNs whereas others work in another specialty for a while before transferring into the NICU. To increase your chances of being hired directly into a NICU, having a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree would help.

Labor & delivery (L&D) is the specialty that entails antepartal care of laboring mothers and assistance with deliveries of newborns. Postpartum is the specialty that involves provision of nursing care to newborns.

A passion for nursing is helpful, but not necessary. I've never had a passion for nursing, nor was it ever a childhood dream or higher 'calling,' yet I've carved a 10-year career out of it.

Just a word of caution: you are interested in highly coveted nursing specialties. It seems that everyone and their Momma wants to work with babies. Therefore, securing a nursing job in the NICU, L&D or postpartum as a new grad may involve a degree of fierce competition.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

As I mentioned I love babies, so how would working in the NICU or helping doctors deliver work out? Do you get promoted to these positions? How are you able to choose to work with babies? My friend told me you have to become a nurse practitioner to be a NICU nurse, is this true? I would go back to become a nurse practitioner if that's the case.

1. Is there any advice you guys have for me?
   

In nursing school you will have clinicals in mental health, adult, OB, and pediatrics. Depending on how strong your desire to get into pediatric/NICU/newborn nursery. It is possible to get into a nursing specialty involving babies as a new grad depending on the demand in your area or willingness to move to a location that offers you a job in that specialty. I moved 3 hours away to get into NICU as a new grad. I put out 50-100 applications nationwide to get a NICU job. If the demand is low for new grads in your area or you are unwilling to relocate for a job, then you will limit your chances to get a nursing job involving babies as a new grad. eventually after a year or two, you may be able to transfer into a pediatric/newborn nursery/ NICU position.

No, you do not have to become a neonatal nurse practitioner to be a NICU nurse, but you need to be NICU nurse to become a neonatal nurse practitioner.