Neonatal Nurse Practioners/Neonatal Nurses

I'm new to this site, so I apologize in advance if I post this in the wrong section :/

I’m 17. I was supposed to be a senior in HS this year, but long story short, I got my diploma from a home school & I just started college on Monday. I’m gonna take as many prerequisites as I can before transferring to SHSU for my BSN. After that, I plan on working as an RN for 2 years before applying to a graduate school to get my Masters in Neonatal Nursing. My ultimate long term goal is to be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

I have some questions for all the NP’s & NNP’s out there, so please please please take the time to answer, because it would mean the world to me to get some advice from the women (and men) who are in this field

1) Is my plan correct? Do I need to work as an RN before applying to graduate school to get my masters? What would you reccomend my plan be, if this is incorrect?

2) How many hours a week do you work? Are you on call? Do you work day/swing/night? Do you have husbands and families? If yes, do you still have time to be a mom/wife without feeling like you're stretching yourself far too thin?

3) Do you love your job? What is the best part about your job? The most rewarding? The worst part?

4) Not to be too nosy (you can use ranges if that makes you feel more comfortable), but on average, how much is your annual salary?

6) What kind of scrubs do you wear (any specfic colors/patterns?) What kind of stethoscope (if any??) do you use? Just any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated

Let me make it clear that I AM NOT DOING THIS FOR THE MONEY! I LOVE babies. Ever since my nephew was born, I knew in my heart that I was meant to be a NNP, but I would just like an idea on what I can expect once I start working. So please, don’t think that I’m shallow or anything. I truly want to be a NNP and I would love more than anything to know that I am helping newborns every single day. I just don’t want to enter this profession without being fully educated on everything about it. Thanks again

A/N: I apologize for mispelling Practitioners in the title Last edit by Jamie_Loves_Stephen on Sep 1, '11 : Reason: Mispelled a word