Frank Said:

How much schooling is required to become a NICU nurse?

We Answered:

You need to take biology and chemistry in high school. To work in the NICU you need to get a four year BSN and then you may need extra certification to work in the NICU.

Barbara Said:

i want to be a NICU nurse?

We Answered:

You need to be a RN, and you can become one with either an Associate's Degree in Nursing or a full Bachelor of Science or Arts in Nursing. An ADN degree will take you about 3 years because you have to complete pre-requisite courses before you can apply to the nursing program, then it is a two year program. For a BSN/BAN you do the pre-reqs and general ed. courses in the first two years then apply to the program and spend the last two years in nursing courses.

Either one earns you the license, and either one can work in a NICU. BSN grads just get more leadership / professional / research education and it prepares you more for management positions later in your career. You could always do the ADN and complete the BSN later, too.

Sheila Said:

What schooling, and or job experience do I need to work as a NICU nurse?

We Answered:

First and foremost, you have to go to nursing school. You can either get an associates degree or a bachelors degree, but I've found that it really pays to stick it out a couple of extra semesters to get the bachelors. Then, you'll be a BSN. After that, you'll take an exam called the NCLEX, which is the licensing exam to become a registered nurse (RN). Once you've passed that and become and RN, you'll apply and hopefully get hired at a hospital. You'll do a certain period of time in a preceptorship, where you'll work directly under/with another registered nurse. At some point, you'll be able to specialize and work in pediatrics, and I think you'll have to work in peds for a period of time before you'll get to actually work in the NICU. It will vary from hospital to hospital. Better to talk to a nurse or two that actually works in NICU and ask them what the procedure is.

Good luck with the decision process and I hope you decide to go for it. Nursing school is hard, but it's also very rewarding and a lot of fun.

Scott Said:

NICU Nurse Dream Job HELP!!!!!!?

We Answered:

You do have to have a college degree to become a nurse. To work in a NICU, an RN is basically the minimum and that will take about 3-4 years of college (1-2 year of pre-req's, 2 years nursing school). You can get your ADN/ASN (Associate's Degree in Nursing / Associate of Science in Nursing) degree in about 3 years. You can get your BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing) in 4-5 years. A BSN in preferable, but you can always go back and get your BSN after your are already an RN. Either route you will be able to be a NICU nurse, but the BSN route looks better on your resume.

RN's typically work 36-40 hours per week (either 3 12-hour shifts per week or 5 8-hour shifts per week). Pay varies by geographical location, but can be anywhere from $16/hr to $30+/hr depending on where you live and want to work. Check Salary.com for specifics to your location.

Tips on becoming a nurse:
1) Make good grades. Nursing school is extremely competitive, and getting in is one of the most difficult parts. Make good test scores (SAT/ACT). Start looking at nursing schools to see what their waitlist is like and also what they require to get in.
2) Become a CNA (certified nursing assistant). This will require a little bit of education to get certified, but it will allow you to get a job in the hospital setting (hopefully in a NICU somewhere. Labor and Delivery or Postpartum or Nursery or Pediatrics or PICU would be good backups in case getting a tech job in a NICU isn't possible). Working as a tech (CNA) in a NICU would be the best experience you could get and would lead you down the path of become a NICU RN faster.
3) Volunteer. Teach CPR for the Red Cross or something like that. It looks great on your resume for applying for school as well as getting your dream job.

Annette Said:

Does anyone know the requirements to becoming a NICU nurse and a midwife?

We Answered:

rn then certification as both

Lawrence Said:

Would being a NICU nurse extern help me get a job in the NICU when I graduate nursing school?

We Answered:

Is this a student nurse internship, or a RN externship?

Read the externship job posting very carefully - where I live, externships are part of a hire process and are NOT temporary positions for students. They are for licensed RNs who are training into the field and at the end of the externship they are formal employees. Internships are temporary positions for students to gain experience in a particular area.

Be sure of what you're applying for. Regardless, yes it will be a very valuable experience. But as a new grad, you'd be better off working in a med/surg environment, either adult or pediatric, simply to gain valuable experience as a new nurse before moving on to a specialty. It's difficult to get straight into any ICU environment as a new graduate, even if you have internship experience under your belt. So don't get discouraged if you can't get there right way.