Which Route Should I Take?

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Hello,

I am going back to school in the spring time but I am not sure where to start. I also just moved here to Katy, Texas, 45 minutes from Houston. All though I'm not familiar with this area, I know that Houston has a major children's hospital which is my goal, or any hospital down here for that matter.

I have decided to change majors from social work to nursing. At the end of this all, I want to be a neonatal nurse practitioner.

So here we go.

I was looking at several routes to reach my goal and this is the scenarios I came up with.

Should I:

First become an RN from an associates degree and then go find work to gain experience as an RN while I go back to get my bachelors? I considered this route because I thought that by becoming an RN before I got my bachelors allowed me to gain the experience I needed in order to get into a master's program sooner?

Or should I:

Become a CNA and work as that as I go to school to get my bachelors for nursing, attain my RN, work as an RN for a couple years, and then finally go get my masters?

I just want to know for sure before I go back to school in the spring and I still need to do my research as for what schools offer nursing and such but I was unsure about what route to take. Any advice is welcomed! I am really confused..

Also, how can I gain experience working in the neonatal sector?

Thank you all so so much!

If I didn't make any sense, I apologize! This is my first post on this site...

Thank you again.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I would get your RN first, especially since you want to be a NNP. If you can afford it financially (have no kids/etc) then go for it. I wouldn't add too many unnecessary steps.

I don't know what the job market is like in the Katy/Houston area, but it might be smarter to apply to BSN programs. I would look at the job market & see what the hospitals want. Good luck!

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I am only 19 and I don't have any kids. I currently still live with my parents and they are allowing me to stay as long as I stay in school. I think I will go ahead and search for BSN programs and see what their requirements and such are.

Thank you so much!

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