What degrees do you need for neonatal nursing?

ALL the steps of becoming a Neonatal nurse, every step i need to take from being a jr. in HS, to getting a job

• I am a Junior in High School, and i need to know every single step i need to take to become a Neonatal Nurse. from courses i need to take in HS and college, volunteer work, programs, schools, degrees.....EVERY thing!!! I have no idea about any of this so every bit of information is needed and helpful...if possible what are some good colleges to go to for nursing programs and such that are around Abilene, TX or San Angelo, TX...i'm from around this area...Winters, TX exactly...but all helpful information is appreciated...thanks

• Answer:

  The first thing you need to do is get into a Nursing program. Community or Junior Colleges often have both LPN and RN programs. Universities have BSN programs. You are going to want to get a BSN to be a neonatal nurse. You can start out at a community college majoring in Pre-Nursing, then transfer to a BSN program. Once you graduate, get a few years experience in med-surg (you don't start out working with the babies), then go back to school and specialize in neonatal nursing. To make sure you get into a BSN program, your GPA during your first 2 years of college needs to be excellent- 3.5 or better would be great.