Hi! I'm Amanda...

I am a neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 10 years of experience in Level III and Level IV NICUs. As a

“forever student” with a never-ending thirst for knowledge, I am always looking to expand my expertise.

I remember being a new graduate nurse in the NICU and feeling completely clueless. Once I finally started to feel confident in my role, I moved to a new state and a new NICU and felt like a new grad all over again.

I always wanted to be the best nurse for my patients. A nurse who is knowledgeable, confident, and skilled. While perfecting my skills in the NICU I decided to sit for my nursing certification exam. I figured getting my RNC would improve my overall knowledge and make me a better nurse.

I remember taking practice tests and feeling like a complete failure because I had no idea what the questions were even talking about (what’s serum alpha-fetoprotein?!).

Despite feeling like I knew nothing, I applied for a test date, studied for 3 months, and PASSED and received my RNC-NIC on my first try! I didn’t tell any of my coworkers I was taking the test just in case I failed!

Since then I have been an ambassador for specialty certification in my unit. Over the years I have learned a lot about certification exams and test-taking. I even achieved a few more specialty certifications (C-ELBW, C-NNIC, ACCNS-N, and NPD-BC).

Having and maintaining a specialty certification has helped me keep up with evidence-based practices. I want to help other nurses who are preparing for their certification exam because I remember how stressful it felt. I want NICU nurses to know you have a fellow NICU nurse on your side and rooting you on! You can do it! And I want to help you.