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Hi! My name is Melody and I am 30 years old. I am a mother of 2 and returning to school to pursue my RN. I have always been interested in nursing but never made the move until recently to pursue my interest. My now 3 year old daughter was born at 26 weeks and spent considerable time in the NICU so I am focusing on the NICU but may also consider L&D.

The questions I have are in regard to what I can do in those two areas while I am pursuing my RN. I will have to have my CNA before nursing clinicals and I was hoping I could work at some capacity in the NICU or L&D with my CNA. I know I wouldn't be able to do all of the procedures but I wasn't even sure if this is done anywhere. I will need to work while attending school and felt it would be really helpful gaining experience in these areas since that will be my focus. If anyone has done this could you tell me about your experience and how it worked? I would really appreciate it. Also, those of you who have worked in NICU and/or L&D, could you tell me some pros and cons to both areas? Any insight, advice, information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!:)

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Welcome Melody!!! And welcome to nursing!:) we are glad you are here! Just wanted to say hi, I'm an old ER/neuro nurse, I'm afraid of babies and mommies! There are lots of people to answer any questions.:D

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Welcome.

You probably will be able to find a job as a CNA in some area of maternal child care. At my hospital what would be available to you would be as a CNA in High Risk OB and, if you wanted to get more training, as scrub tech in L&D.

But, what I would advise would be to work as CNA in M/S and volunteer in NICU or somewhere in maternal child. There's a lot to be said for any level of M/S expereince, and unless you're very lucky you'll probably end up floating there anyway.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

Welcome to nursing and go for it

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Melody,

Congratulations on your decision and best of luck to you!

I worked in a NICU for 3.5 years and would like to go back to it again someday when I am able to work full-time again. I worked in a Level II, so extremely small or sick babies were sent elsewhere. With that being the case, one of the biggest pluses to me was that the majority of our babies had great outcomes, which is always very nice. I could list so many pros...getting to know families, taking care of precious babies, a great work environment...I could go on and on. The cons, for me, were few, the biggest probably being parents that got on my nerves. (Not all did, however, and I'm sure you wouldn't have been one! ;) )

I don't like to type very long posts. If you have any further questions, please feel free to "pm" me!

Melissa

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Hi Melody!

Welcome to nursing!! Good advice all around....most well newborn nurseries I know utilize CNA's to feed, wash, etc. Also mother/baby units....:)

CNA's do indeed 'float' around the hospitals so you'll gain a wide experience. Also there are unit secretary positions which are both good jobs for nursing students...Good luck!!

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

i just wanted to say hello and wish you all the best!

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