[Tiny1Nisolet]

I spent the day shadowing on Thursday. It was so AWESOME! I think they are going to interview me next week. I am so excited. Anyway, this came up during the day and I thought it might be an interesting question sooo...

In the unit I was in, nurses were allowed to sign up to be a primary for patients after they had worked for six months. My nurse said she like the fat sick babies the best. I was wondering if you had a favorite type of patient, and if so which kind...

Thanks everyone, and Happy New Year!

[SteveRN21]

did you mean an edematous sick baby, or a sick feeder-grower? I personally prefer micropreemies on vents, or postop patients. But I do like to just sit and feed a baby, or give a bath once in a while.....

[Tiny1Nisolet]

I am not sure which she meant. I do not think she was talking about an edematous baby. I guess I was thinking she meant the LGA babies from moms with gestational diabetes?

[fergus51]

PPHN kids are often big and very sick too.

I don't have a favorite kind of baby. I like the variety.

[minniemiteRN]

My favorite type of patient to take care of has changed. When I first came into the NICU I loved the high acuity of a micropreemie. I enjoyed taking care of the babies on the high frequency vents and multiple drips. Now however, after taking care of several of those babies and becoming their primary nurse and seeing them throughout the course of their care. I now have developed a love for the more chronic baby...the ones the other nurses tend to shy away from. I am currently the primary nurse to a 10 mos old (5 mos AGA) boy who is trached, vent dependent, and has a GT. His care is further complicated by CF like symptoms yet all the gene studies have come back neg. So...long story to say, your favorite now might not be your favorite tomorrow.

[sparkyRN]

I like most anything ICUish. My favorite is the term PPHN with all the gizmos--NO, oscillator, drips, multiple lines. (Can do without the chest tubes,
though.) They are such a great challenge and can have quite a miraculous turn around. It's great to be there for that!

[premielover]

My favorite type of NICU patient?....It makes no difference as long as they have nice parents..

[fergus51]

Originally Posted by premielover

My favorite type of NICU patient?....It makes no difference as long as they have nice parents..

AMEN!!!

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by sparkyRN

I like most anything ICUish. My favorite is the term PPHN with all the gizmos--NO, oscillator, drips, multiple lines. (Can do without the chest tubes,
though.) They are such a great challenge and can have quite a miraculous turn around. It's great to be there for that!

Ooooh, I love it when the baby "turns the corner" on my shift! Suddenly, the BP is great, the blood gasses are amazing, PaO2 is sky high, and the baby starts peeing like a race horse. Those kids are amazing when they turn around. One day you'll have them on 20 of nitric, oscillator, pavulon, dop/dob, etc. Two days later the baby is extubated and starting feeds. The parents look at you like you're a miracle worker.

Now, I've also had those lovely shifts where a baby "flips" into PPHN on me. SUCKS.

[wannabeL&D73]

Originally Posted by fergus51

AMEN!!!

So from a NICU nurses perspective, what is the definition of a "nice parent"? Just curious as we will be TTC in the next year, and there is a possibility of another NICU stay.

Shannon