[Kalico]

I know I want to be a NICU nurse when I graduate next year and I was hoping that some of you could tell me what kind of qualities are needed/desired in a NICU nurse as well as what certifications I will need to obtain. Also, will the facility that I work for help me with getting the certifications or is that my responsibility?

Thanks,
Liz

ADN May of 2006

[suzanne4]

The only certification that you will need right away is NRP, which stands for "Neonatal Resuscitation Program." The rest will come only after you have training in that area. The facility will actually provide the course and training for you.

Good luck to you.

[Kalico]

Originally Posted by suzanne4

The only certification that you will need right away is NRP, which stands for "Neonatal Resuscitation Program." The rest will come only after you have training in that area. The facility will actually provide the course and training for you.

Good luck to you.

So that's something that I will get after I've been hired? How long of a course is it?

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by Kalico

So that's something that I will get after I've been hired? How long of a course is it?

I know the renewal course (every 2 years) is 4 hours long - maybe the initial course is 8 hours? Don't worry about it, really, because you WILL get it after you're hired into any nursery-type area. It's the department's responsibility to have their nurses NRP certified, and every hospital I know provides this course for their nurses.

The thing about NICU is that there isn't much you can do in nursing school to prepare for it. You learn everything you need to know AFTER you get hired.


Good luck!

[sparkyRN]

At our hospital NRP is part of the 280 hour instruction program and testing is done prior to finishing preceptorship. As with all healthcare facilities, regular BLS/CPR is required every 2 years even if you never take care of an adult. Once you are working you will have regular inservices for which you will receive contact hours, a certain number required by your hospital every year. Your nurse manager or unit educator will keep up with that. You may have to get CEU's on your own to meet your requirement. Ours is 30 contact hours/year, but that includes all staff meeting and competency testing--it's not hard to get those 30 hours.

[Kalico]

Originally Posted by sparkyRN

At our hospital NRP is part of the 280 hour instruction program and testing is done prior to finishing preceptorship. As with all healthcare facilities, regular BLS/CPR is required every 2 years even if you never take care of an adult. Once you are working you will have regular inservices for which you will receive contact hours, a certain number required by your hospital every year. Your nurse manager or unit educator will keep up with that. You may have to get CEU's on your own to meet your requirement. Ours is 30 contact hours/year, but that includes all staff meeting and competency testing--it's not hard to get those 30 hours.

Thank you for all the wonderful information! I am trying to gain as much knowledge now so that when I go for interviews I can ask about all these things and look like I have put some effort into it. If any of you have any more info that you think might be helpful I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks again,