Would Like To Know More On How To Become A Nicu Nurse Practioner

[monet86]

Hi everyone,

I am about to start all my pre-req's to go into nursing school. I would like to be a Neonatal Nurse Practioner. I love babies (I'm giving birth to my 1st next sat (hopefully)) . I'm pretty sure I have to full jist of what a Neonatal Nurse Practioner does, but would like more info, also I think I have what i need to do for schooling down but want to make sure. Here is what I understand about the profession at this point:

Neonatal Nurse Practioner takes care of sick babies and "nurses" them back to health.

A Nurse Practioner is almost like a doctor in the sense they can have their own patients and practices, perscribe medicines, just less schooling and cant perform surgeries.

As far as schooling goes the is what I have figured out I'm in for:

pre-req's to get ADN

them finish pre-req's for BSN

work in field for 2 yrs (experience)

then go back to school and complete pre-req's for MSN in Neonatal

...from what I know i will not learn anything "Neonatal" until the masters program unless i am able to get into the NICU field as a BSN or ADN.

I got all this info by researching it myself and I asked a few nurses (not neonatal) about it and the university. I feel as if there is more I should know. If anyone can tell me more about it I would also appreciate talking with a Neonatal Nurse Practioner.

Also I would like to know what the annual salary is for a Neonatal Nurse Practioner , I've heard $200k + a yr, is this true?

fyi, money is not what got me interested in become a Neonatal Nurse Practioner, our baby has borderline Hydrocephalus, the scare made me realize I would love to help other babies and families in need.

Thanks !