[cherokeesummer]

I'm so very excited and pleased to announce that today I was offered and accepted a position as an RN in a level 4 NICU. I'm so excited! I graduate in July and will take NCLEX in August. I start orientation in September. It works out well b/c I'm trying to adjust to the idea of not being home with my son! I worked full time for years and then had a son and stayed home with him and finished out nursing school, was almost done when I got pregnant.

Anyway sorry to ramble on but I'm so excited! I know how hard it is for new grads to get into the NICU arena. I'm doing my senior preceptorship in a level 3 NICU now and I'm sure that helped alot in the decision.

I will be spending as much time as I can on these boards learning from the seasoned experts.

[Amiejayrn]

Congrats to you! I too was offered a job in a level III-c NICU. My orientation starts in August and I am so exited! I graduated 12/06 and just passed the NCLEX 2 weeks ago and so I am just getting started.... Cherokee, good luck to you and again Congradulations on a great position!

[lilbug]

Congrats, Cherokeesummer!!! That is awesome you got hired in the NICU! Yea I agree it is hard to get a job in NICU as a new grad but, as people have been posting, it does happen! I hope to be in your shoes soon as well! I will be anxious until I get that call in hopes I get a job offer!

Good luck with finishing school this summer. I'm right behind ya (August grad)!! It's tough going to school in the summer but now that you have the job you want, finishing will seem even more so rewarding.

[RainDreamer]

Congratulations!!

[cherokeesummer]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the support. I'm still kind of in lala land about it! Hard to believe!

[fnlyRNstudent05]

Congratulations!!!!
I too will join the nICU nursing world in August in Maryland.
Fasten your seatbelts!!!!

Any of you looked into a scope? I have to buy my own and am considering an ultrascope with a neonate and adult head. What are your thoughts???

[CaliNicuRN]

You may not need your own scope. Often the NICU's have dedicated scopes for each baby to avoid cross contamination.

Check with your hospital before you make the purchase.

[cherokeesummer]

Yeah I think the scope will be something you probably won't need. What I am wish listing for graduation is the neonatal handbook or whatever the full title is - its on the recommended list (sticky). I really want that so I'm going to beg LOL!

Thanks again for the kind words everyone. Today was my last day in clinical at school. I enjoyed it. I still feel like I have a thousand and one things to learn but there are things I do now that were SCARY to me earlier..i.e. putting in NG tubes...yes that seems super simple LOL but to me putting anything in a 3 lb baby (or similar size) is SCARY!!!! But I swear the babies must communicate through ESP when they know I'm coming and they all revolt and pull their tubes out LOL so I get to put them back in...I can tell I've improved greatly in my comfort.

[noellelynn]

I'm just wondering how and when did you guys all decide you wanted to be in nicu? When you were in nursing school and clinicals? did you actually get to have a clinical in nicu in nursing school? or was it just in peds? or was it in l&d where you got the exposure to nicu? i'm just wondering how everyone decides which specialty after school. thanks in advance for replies!

[NICURN2B08]

Originally Posted by noellelynn

I'm just wondering how and when did you guys all decide you wanted to be in nicu? When you were in nursing school and clinicals? did you actually get to have a clinical in nicu in nursing school? or was it just in peds? or was it in l&d where you got the exposure to nicu? i'm just wondering how everyone decides which specialty after school. thanks in advance for replies!

Hi noellelynn,

I just graduated 2 weeks ago and in April I accepted a position in the NICU after doing my senior preceptorship there. I did do one shift prior to that during my peds clinicals.

I already worked at the hospital where I did my clinicals and always wanted to go in the NICU to see what it was like. When I got there I fell in love and it just felt like it was where I needed to be. The NICU is very different from anywhere else in the hospital and I think you know right offhand whether it is for you or not.

Clinicals and preceptorship are great opportunities to get a feel for what you would like to do. Like I said earlier, when I was the NICU I felt comfortable and could see myself working there. I work as a tech on a respiratory Med/Surg floor and thought that I would work on that floor after graduation, but the NICU changed all of that real quick!

Good luck to you and I hope what I have said helps!

Take care