Nursery Nurses: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of nursery nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for nursery nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of nursery nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for nursery nurses.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Nursery Nurses?

Do nursery nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do nursery nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for nursery nurses to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Nursery Nurses

No education was listed by most employers of nursery nurses. According to job data, no education was required for 47% of positions. In 37% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 8% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Nursery Nurses

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for nursery nurses. In 61% of job postings for Nursery Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% of job postings for nursery nurses.

What Kind of Degree Do Nursery Nurses Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for nursery nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 5 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective nursery nurses, and in 2023 a total of 254,678 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective nursery nurses.

Top Degree Programs for Nursery Nurses

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Nursery Nurses

What Skills Do Nursery Nurses Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by nursery nurses to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for nursery nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Nursery Nurses
Based on 2,512 job postings

Based on 2,512 job postings related to nursery nurses, midwifery was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 67% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for obstetrics and gynaecology, gynecology, postpartum care, nursing and intrapartum were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for nursery nurses, followed by communication, research, teaching, leadership and writing.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about nursery nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for nursery nurses.

What do nursery nurses do?
How much do nursery nurses make?

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