So you want to become a Neonatal Nurse? Great! Not sure about how much schooling is required in order to get started?
Well, just know that becoming a nurse of any type is not a quick or easy process.
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it through a nursing program, so just be aware of all of the requirements before you get too invested into a program.
Your initial step in becoming a Neonatal Nurse is to become a Registered Nurse and obtain licensure in your state. The path to become a licensed registered nurse commonly flows through an accredited college or university that officers either a diploma, Associates degree in nursing (ASN), or a Bachelors degree in nursing (BSN), both of which should culminate in the taking of the NCLEX-RN exam.
Now the answer to how much schooling you will need to become a Neonatal Nurse is more in your hands at this point. Beginning a program for a diploma in nursing can range anywhere from 18-24 months in duration.
Diplomas in nursing are still available although their availability is on the decline. With a comparable time investment of about 24-36 months, you could pursue an Associates of Science in Nursing (ASN) and increase your marketability in today’s neonatal nursing job market.
That’s not to say that entering into any other nursing program other than a ASN that you will not be hired as a Neonatal Nurse, but just be cognizant of the fact that your peers generally set their educational degree goals at the Associates or Bachelors degree level, which is more in line with what the hiring departments of potential employers are currently seeking in the nursing positions that they are looking to fill.
So even if you have already begun a diploma nursing program with the hopes of later becoming a Neonatal Nurse, if you are attending classes from an accredited school then you should have no problem in transferring to an Associates in Nursing degree program.
Most nursing programs will require that you complete a set of prerequisites in order to be accepted into the nursing program. There are a few ways that accelerate this process and achieve completion of these courses at a much faster pace. The average Associates Degree is between 60-64 credit hours but when you include the required prerequisites of the neonatal nursing curriculum and clinical hours, you may be closer to 72-78 credit hours upon completion.
