[dinkyandzen]

My daughter was born early in October. She was only 3 weeks early, but her lungs were not fully matured and she needed help. When she was 24 hours old she was transferred to Cook Childrens Hospital where she was intubated and given Survanta. She was in the NI for 8 days before she got to go home.

I tell you that for more than 1 reason :

1. Thank GOD for NI nurses, especially our special nurse Wendy
2. I'm starting nursing school (VN) 1-10-06 and feel called to the NICU....what are my chances of getting an NICU position as an LVN?

Thanks!
Courtney

[TiffyRN]

I am happy to hear your daughter did well after treatment. Congratulations on getting into VN school. One of my best friends from nursing school teaches LvN school in Florida. Unfortunately I don't know of any NICU's that employ LVN's in this area (I work across the street from Cook's at Harris). Having said that I know one of our nurses who worked at Cook's as an LVN while going through RN school but only with Peds patients and feeder/grower infants. She is excellent as are all the former LVN's who work in our unit. I don't know about all areas of the country but since you mentioned Cook's I assumed you lived in the general North Texas area. Once more congrats on your daughter and admission to school.

[minniemiteRN]

I'm so glad your daughter is doing well and your experience in the NICU was a good one. Congrats to you for getting into LVN school! We have 2 LPN's working in our unit that have been with us for 15+ yrs and are no longer hiring LPN's. My recommendation for you would be maybe to try to get a job as pt care tech in the NICU in your area while you are in school which will give you experience for when you get out of school and also once you graduate try to work in newborn nursery. A lot of NICU's want you to have well born experience before you start NICU anyway so while you work on your RN you can work in newborn and get your degree and kill two birds with one stone. Good Luck...

[dinkyandzen]

Thank You!! TIffy.....our main nurse at Cook's was an LVN, but if I was a betting woman I'd bet you she was doing the bridge program, because she was one of only 4 LVNs in there, and on their website they have seven NICU openings but all are for RNs.

The suggestion about Newborn nursery is awesome....I don't think I can be anywhere BUT newborns....maybe mother-baby care, but I just know I want to work with the littlest creations.

Any suggestions on how to get hired while I'm in school? ANd I know that would be super difficult, but maybe a PRN position? If there is such a thing.

[cathys01]

We have no LVNs on our unit, but every year we do have several neo-techs (student nurses) that always have top priority for the internship positions.

Good luck with school!!

[judyblueeyes]

Our NICU is RN only, also.

A general nursery position would be a good choice for a student because it is less difficult, more flexible, and would give one a good grounding in healthy babies and you could possibley effect a transfer after graduation.

My place is all high risk pregnancies, so we tent to be releived whe we admit an 'only' 36 weeker, but they are still premature. JFK's baby, Patrick, died of respiratory distress at 36 weeks!

[dinkyandzen]

How do I go about getting a general nursery position? Is it possible to do only weekends doing that since I will be in School or clinicals M-F 8a-5p?