What steps would I have to take if I wanted to become a peditric nurse?

Ashley,

Let us start out with the amount of education you will need which will be an Associates or Bachelors in Nursing where you will receive your RN after you pass NCLEX-RN exam. A masters degree is always an option depending on how far you wish to go in your education and what you want to do for work however I suggest starting out as an RN first.

You will also want a PALS certification (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) which gets renewed every 2yrs. Here is more on what PALS is: http://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Training/HealthcareProfessional/Pediatric/UCM_476258_PALS.jsp

As an RN you can start working in pediatrics, if you wish to specialize then you should get your CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse). The CPN exam validates knowledge and expertise of pediatric nurses beyond basic RN. Here are the requirements before you can apply to take the exam: http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/pn/elig

Keep in mind that all practicing nurses of all levels must have continuing education hours or CE's in order to renew their license. Your work will provide you with in-services for your CE's. Every state has different requirements for RN license renewal in Mass 15 hours of continuing education within the two years immediately preceding renewal of registration are required for licensure (renew your RN every 2yrs). http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/regs/244cmr005.pdf

In terms of the steps to get started: if your high school offers a CNA (certified nursing assistant) program I suggest you start with that (it is never to early to start early). CNA is grunt work but it gives perspective and looks good on your resume to have nursing experience at a young age. Another benefit is if your college or university has a waiting list for their nursing program people with CNA's will have a better chance of getting in.

If that option is not palatable to you then taking AP classes and getting some nursing prerequisites done (such as biology and math) for college is also a good option (it can save you money for sure). Just keep in mind students in AP classes may find that although they passed an exam, their score isn't high enough. At some elite colleges, even the highest mark doesn't count and while dual credit offers students a transcript proving they completed a course, it may be a transcript some colleges do not accept. Therefore, check with your colleges/universities of choice to see if the credit will be transferred.

Another alternative to AP classes to cut down on college costs and get your degree faster is taking some CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) exams. It helps you receive college credit for what you already know, for a fraction of the cost of a college course ($80 per exam). Developed by the College Board, CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program, available at more than 2,900 colleges and universities. https://clep.collegeboard.org/started

A third option is volunteering in a hospital, it will look good on your resume for future jobs and college applications as well as giving you a view to the inner workings of a hospital/ medical field. This option would be the best place to start if you are unsure of your desire to work in the medical field.

There is also studying you can do on your own at home to help you learn and prepare for not only your current high school classes but also for your college and NCLEX-RN such as online learning video's and forums. There is tons of free learning out there, I use https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/nclex-rn to supplement my nursing classes.

Good luck with all your future endeavors and remember the more you do now to prep and prepare the easier it will be later.

-Amy