Neonatal Nursing Schools
Current or future nurses wanting to pursue a nursing degree to become a neonatal nurse have an exciting education path infront of them. While working in the neonatal intensive care unit is an exciting nurse specialty, all prospective NICU nurses must first have their nursing degree…more specifically, they must be a registered nurse, or have their RN license.
Nursing school for prospective neonatal nurses is no different than that of any other nursing specialty. Where the paths start to branch off is when a nursing student finishes nursing school and gets hired on to an NICU as a nurse intern. Through this internship, neonatal nurses are trained in the critical care of sick and premature infants.
Nursing School Paths
Nursing Students can obtain one of two types of nursing degrees to work in the neonatal intensive care unit. The first option is to obtain an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), which is a two-year nursing program that allows graduates to obtain their registered nursing license.
The second option is for a student to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which alsow allows the graduate to pursue their registered nursing license. However, more and more hospitals and neonatal units are wanting to have a higher number of staff in place with a Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Nursing.
Regardless of which route is taken, it is still very possible to become a neonatal nurse with either type of degree. Nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing also have the option to bridge and take classes to obtain their BSN, which can be done completely online, and without having to take any clinicals. The nurse can remain in his or her current job while completing the nursing coursework.
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