I am starting my first year of college and know that I am leading into the nursing program. I am unsure if I want to get my associates or bachelors. I know that I want to work on the L&D floor..Maybe NICU. I have searched and searched online and found mixed opinions on whether I NEED my bachlors to work in those areas. I was once told that the bachelors expands your fields and responsibilty more towards management and paperwork. which I have no real interest in. I want to stay hands on. I am 31 years old,married with 4 kiddos and know that this will be difficult and a long process. I am thinking if I go the bacehlors route it will take me at least 6 years to complete. As I cannot go full time right now. so if I can obtain my goal in less time then that would be wonderful. However I do not want to risk not being able to get a job in that area.I am also scared that the qualifications may change and that a .bachelors will be required in those areas. I dont want to make a mistake and not go all the way. but dont want to spend all this time in school when I could be practicing sooner! 

Any help would be greatly appriciated!!! 

 Hi Jessemarie, 

I have a BSN and started my career in L&D.  I really think the trend is to have most nurse be BSN prepared, but as of now there are many nurses that work L&D that are ADN.  You can always get a ADN and then bridge over to your BSN if needed.  I think eventually most nurses working in critical cared areas will be required to have a BSN.  

Now as to working in L&D.  I am a seasoned L&D nurse and the best advice I can give you on this is, if you are lucky enough to get a position in L&D (they don't hire a lot of new grads) be SURE they have a REAl internship program where you get not only experience on the unit but also classroom instruction on what it all means.   We get critical care pay because it is truly a critical care unit.  It is a high stressed, fast paced, very litigious unit where you will be taking care of mothers from low to high acuity.  You'll be hanging magnesium sulfate one minute then running to the OR in the next all while you are dealing with doctors that aren't always so nice.  Be sure the unit staffs appropriately as your license is on the line and nurses like doctors can get sued.  You have to stay aware of what your mother and baby are doing ( so son't expect to eat or pee on a regular basis) because when things go wrong in L&D they go wrong FAST!  I am not trying to paint a negative picture for you because being a L&D nurse is great, just remember: "L&D isn't just having babies"

Good luck in your endeavor into nursing!!

Kim- OBRN