[BabyRN2Be]

First of all, I want to say thank you to those of you who have been patient with me and have offered their suggestions for someone starting out. On my personal computer I have a list of all the books you all have mentioned, and I'm hoping to buy some of them as the money is available. I'm so interested in NICU, and have been for several years now, I want to look at these books, even though I'm not in school just yet. I would like to do everything I can to prepare myself for working NICU. One of the questions I would like to ask, what do the nurse managers look for when hiring someone for the NICU? What types of things do they not like? Many people have said that the NICU is competitive and I'd like to prepare myself as much as possible. I have many years experience as a doula, but my number one choice is not labor and delivery. I do like the work though. I am also a certified breastfeeding educator, and have received education on breastfeeding in special circumstances in the NICU along with well baby BF. What else would be of benefit starting out? At the moment I'm trying to get into the volunteer NICU "cuddler" program at one of the local hospitals. I would love to get a first hand and long term look as well as observation time to see what all comprises work at a Level III NICU. If anyone has suggestions, I would really appreciate it. If I don't get NICU, I am preparing myself for other areas of nursing, but in my heart, I really want to work in NICU. Thank you for everything you all have said so far. I really appreciate all your responses. Kat

[EricEnfermero]

Kat,

Sounds like you're really on the ball and doing all of the right things. By the time you graduate, you'll practically be a walking resume.

Getting in some volunteer time in the NICU is a great idea. There will be nothing quite like the feeling you experience when you're actually an RN on the unit, but you'll at least get to see some of the good, the bad and the ugly as a volunteer.

[Gompers]

I agree, you're on the right track.

The one thing I always warn people about before they interview for the NICU is to NOT say, "Because I love babies!!!" Seriously, I've met quite a few new grads who started in the NICU purely because of their love for babies and ALL of them quit within a year, burnt out. Loving babies is one thing, being able to take care of them when they're sick or dying is quite another. Plus it's not all about the babies - it's the families that are often the biggest challenge.

But because you have experience working with moms already and have the breastfeeding certification, you're going to be an attractive canidate right off the bat. Good luck!

[BabyRN2Be]

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it.

As it stands right now, I will start in the cuddler program the 22nd of August if the other volunteer can make it. I'm really looking forward to this.

One of the main reasons why I want to work in NICU is because I love a challenge, and challenging work. I love being busy, and the technology is very interesting. Gompers, you have a really good point about some people going into the NICU because they love babies. I do love babies, but NICU is different. As I mentioned, I see it as a challenge. If someone goes into work because they love babies, I would suggest mother/baby or L&D. Even though I'd love the teaching aspect of mother/baby, I feel that I'd better working NICU, because I'd like the sense of accomplishment of seeing a very sick kid being able to leave one day with it's parents. I realize that it doesn't always happen this way, and when it doesn't, I'm able to separate myself to where it doesn't affect me personally. This doesn't mean I don't care, but if I'd let every down time get to me, I probably would not work there.

Thank you all for your responses, again. Greatly appreciated!

Kat

[Jolie]

Another important quality of a NICU nurse is someone who enjoys working with patients over the long term, becoming closely involved with parents and extended family, and focusing on teaching.

NICU work also requires the utmost in conscientiousness, attention to fine detail, and meticulousness (if that is a word!).

If I interviewed a new grad (especially a young 20 something new grad) who told me that s/he "loved" babies, I would run the other way. Not because that person was poorly-qualified, but because I would assume that s/he was absolutely clueless about what the NICU entailed.