Last semester Nursing student wanting to work in Neuro field

[savinglives33]

Im currently in last year of Nursing school, and I am fascinated with Neuro! I want to work in either the Neuro ICU or the Neuro med-surg floor.

I was curious as to what special certifications are needed for this, if any? I have the basic CPR required for Nursing school, also I am only in an Associates program. Is a Bachelors required for this field? I plan on bridging to get my BSN, just not sure I wanted to do it right out of school. I am just trying to find information, because I live in such a small town there is very few resources. I will have to drive an hour for work to get to the nearest hospital that has a Neuro unit.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

OK....first off, you're going to be an RN, not "just" an ADN :)

I'm an ADN grad from 1985....my first hospital job was on a neuro med-surg floor in a mid-sized community hospital. We didn't get huge traumas, but got all sorts of other stuff, and surgeries were a dime a dozen. I had 6 months of LTC experience before that. That's it. If you're an RN, you technically have the qualifications. HOWEVER, I would strongly recommend some basic med-surg experience to get the pulmonary and heart sounds down a bit more. :) I should have done that.

I loved neuro, and worked 3 years of acute, 6 months of coma stim at a head injury rehab facility, several rehabs, and pediatric neuro patients on a pedi floor. It's fascinating, and helps explain some of the behaviors that can be so frustrating in other areas when patients with neuro histories come in and aren't "right", or have all sorts of cognitive deficits but look fine. The progressive degenerative diseases are heart breaking, but also interesting- and a lot of those patients are really inspirational. Slow viruses are also very interesting. There are a few dingbats now and then- but that's anywhere :)

I personally like the idea of getting your ADN, and working for a bit (and a lot of places offer tuition reimbursement for the BSN, so that helps you financially as well). Get some skills down, and feel a bit more "solid". I didn't get my BSN (never needed it or wanted it, and worked staff, charge, supervisor (LTC) and 'desk job'). BSNs are "preferred" in a lot of places, but the RN is the same no matter what the letters as far as bedside nursing :) Don't sell yourself short !!