What's after RN?

[countessyana]

Hey to all,

i would like to know what is the next step after RN (EDUCAION WISE AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES).

Thanks, yana

[elkpark]

There is a wide range of possible "next steps" available -- depends on what your personal interests and goals are. What are you interested in?

[countessyana]

i am interested in eventually becoming a midwife or a nurse in the neonatal icu. for midwifery i have to take an extra course, right? what about NICU?

[neonatal_nurse]

Further studies, continuing education are great. The thing is, you just finished nursing school and now have a license (If you now are an RN, you didn't say, if not, then go and finish nursing school first). It's time to practice what you have learned! Because all those things thought in school are basically theories. Even if you feel like you have enough knowledge on a particular disease, procedure or even skill, you know nothing if you haven't practiced as a staff nurse. You're back to basics when you get work. They'll train you, teach you protocol and policies, you even have to unlearn some stuff you're used to doing in school. Then you get to enhance your decision making skills. All of these, and much more are not found in any textbook, website or hearsay. You have to experience it yourself. And the big question is, if you decide to start working- will they hire you? Are there even hiring hospitals/facilities? My advice: Start Applying. It may take a while before you get hired. Just read the number of unemployed nurses stories, and you'll wish you applied sooner.

[elkpark]

i am interested in eventually becoming a midwife or a nurse in the neonatal icu. for midwifery i have to take an extra course, right? what about NICU?

Midwifery is a graduate program (at least a Master's degree, plus passing a national certification exam, for licensure). "Regular" RNs can work as staff nurses in the NICU with no further formal education (although there is optional, voluntary certification available). Another NICU option is neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), which, like midwifery, requires graduate education and national certification for licensure.

I agree, though, that's it's a good idea to spend some time developing some basic nursing knowledge and experience before making any decisions about graduate education. Many people start out in nursing sure that they want to specialize in some particular area only to find that, after they've actually been in nursing for a while, they're actually much more interested in something entirely different. Best wishes!