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Im 17 just got my GED bc of personal reasons.. I want to bevome a neonatal nurse practitioner i want to know the steps i need to take to fulfill this dream and how many years its gonna take me. And i knos bsfore applying to the nnp program tbey ask for 2 years kr 3 i think of experiences in the nicu after your rn so i just need to know the steps i need to take. .

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Im 17 just got my GED bc of personal reasons.. I want to bevome a neonatal nurse practitioner i want to know the steps i need to take to fulfill this dream and how many years its gonna take me. And i knos bsfore applying to the nnp program tbey ask for 2 years kr 3 i think of experiences in the nicu after your rn so i just need to know the steps i need to take. .

I don't think it's possible to determine how long it will take. If you're determined, a step-by-step process will get you there.

1) College general ed requirements and nursing pre-requisite classes

2) RN or BSN program

3) Graduate and take NCLEX

4) Get job

5) Finish BSN if not part of original degree

6) Aqcuire NICU experience - amount varies

7) Apply to NNP program.

Good luck!

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Whats the diffrence between rn and bsn? And i read up on i bave to get my masters in science and then get my bachelors dagree in scienxe nuring also?

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Whats the diffrence between rn and bsn? And i read up on i bave to get my masters in science and then get my bachelors dagree in scienxe nuring also?

Yes, you must first get your Bachelors degree before you can get your Masters degree. There are 2 degrees that will allow you to get your RN license. An Associates degree (2 year program if full time, usually) and a Bachelors degree (about 4 or 5 years, depending on program). They both will enable you to get your RN license. However, if your ultimate goal is to become an NNP, then you will need a Master's degree, and you will have to have a Bachelors degree. So, you can do 2 years to get your Associates degree and RN license, then get into an RN to BSN program, then get your Masters. Or you could go straight to a Bachelors degree, work a couple years and then apply to get into a Master's degree program. There are many different paths to your goal, and it really all depends on what path is best for you. My advice would be to decide whether or not you want to start with a 2 year school or a 4 year school, and then work very closely with an advisor. They should be able to help you, and once you're actually in a program you'll learn a heck of a lot more about how it all works.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to prenursing student forum

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Just as an additional bit of information, please take into consideration that it can take sometimes two or more years to just do prerequisite courses for many 2 year programs. If I am not mistaken, the prerequisite courses are often incorporated into four year programs and taken during the first two years.

In my personal opinion, I think they take about the same time roughly. The starting pay should be the same and either route you will be considered a RN. If you want to save time in the long run and are able to afford it, I would recommend going to a four-year school right away so you do not have to worry about getting your BSN later.

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This picture I found maps out the different pathways. The NNP programs usually only require a BSN (bachelors in nursing) and a few years of work experience.

So that being said, if you decide to get your RN (an Associate's) first rather than going all the way for a Bachelor's (BSN) you will have to enroll into a RN-to-BSN program in order to get your Bachelor's.

(Which is fine since alot of RN-to-BSN programs are online, and you can work at getting your BSN while gaining your work experience that way since you'll already be licensed from getting your Associates.)

Once you receive your BSN and you have the work experience you can go ahead and apply to the NNP programs of your choice.

After you graduate from one of the NNP programs (receiving your master's from said program) you can go ahead and take the exams that grant you your NNP license.

** BSN and RN are both registered nurses its just different levels of education**

***I just took this picture from pinterest, I don't know if these values are completely accurate although they seem close. But it helps map out the process***

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