by imboredndhungry

Hello,
I just graduated from college in May and got my BSN. I took boards and passed and got a job in the NICU! How exciting, it's always what I wanted to do since I started nursing school. I just hope I have what it takes. Sometimes, I feel like I don't know anything! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to prepare myself for my new career in the NICU? Any books I should read?
Thanks!
imboredndhungry

Re: NEW NICU RN

Just always be attentive and listen to what your senior colleagues would say and teach you. Get to know your patients well as well as the people you work with. Try to maintain a hramonious relationship with them at all times. \

Good luck

Re: NEW NICU RN

Originally Posted by imboredndhungry

Hello,
I just graduated from college in May and got my BSN. I took boards and passed and got a job in the NICU! How exciting, it's always what I wanted to do since I started nursing school. I just hope I have what it takes. Sometimes, I feel like I don't know anything! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to prepare myself for my new career in the NICU? Any books I should read?
Thanks!
imboredndhungry

I don't really have any adivce, just wanted to say that I'm in the same boat as you I was just hired into the NICU (though I graduated in Dec.) I start orientation on Aug. 17th. When do you start?

Good luck! We have so much to learn!

Re: NEW NICU RN

I am also in the same boat! I am excited, but so nervous to start as well!

Re: NEW NICU RN

Originally Posted by nicurn2be

I am also in the same boat! I am excited, but so nervous to start as well!

When do you two start? We should keep in contact and compare experiences and notes...Support each other

Are there other new grads that were hired at the same time? They told me they were hiring 2 new grads, but I have not met the other one yet.

Re: NEW NICU RN

I guess I'm in this boat too!
I start August 24th and can't wait!

Re: NEW NICU RN

That's such a good idea! I start August 10th, but I don't actually go in to the NICU until the 20th, and we're shadowing that day, and then the third week we jump in with classroom stuff, and working on the unit! I am so excited, but I have never worked in the NICU, and am really nervous about the learning curve. I have been trying to read up a little, but haven't had much time. What are your schedules like?

Re: NEW NICU RN

Originally Posted by nicurn2be

That's such a good idea! I start August 10th, but I don't actually go in to the NICU until the 20th, and we're shadowing that day, and then the third week we jump in with classroom stuff, and working on the unit! I am so excited, but I have never worked in the NICU, and am really nervous about the learning curve. I have been trying to read up a little, but haven't had much time. What are your schedules like?

I don't think I actually get to the unit until september, general nursing orientation and stuff like that, I am doing 3 12 hour shifts plus classroom time while on orientation, rotating days/nights as well. I have only been in the NICU limited number of times and only had patient contact 2 or 3 times so i'm super nervous, excited though, I love the babies, the bigger kids started to wear on me during my pedi internship and adults were out of the question! I've been looking through the "Handbook of Neonatal Care" and "S.T.A.B.L.E.S" just to get a little prepared for the initial shock of it all. I'm in the process of moving though so I haven't spent too much time on that.

Good Luck!
Let us know how the first weeks go since you start so soon!

Re: NEW NICU RN

For me hospital orientation starts on the 17th, and it's a full 7 days. I then do 2 12 hr shifts in the NICU on the 26th & 27th (I think they said these are classroom and competency check offs and such). That's followed by 2 weeks of 4 10hr days. I then get some time w/ a preceptor (Not sure how much...they said the total orientation is 12 weeks.)

Wow, I'm impressed that you guys got jobs w/o having any (or much) NICU experience. I did my senior preceptorship in a NICU. So I did 180 hours, and often was taking a full patient load (which was 2 babies 'cause there were only 4 on the unit due to low census.) I have taken STABLE, so that helps too : ) Even with that, I feel totally unprepared and SO nervous. Again due to low census, a lot of my experience was with growers and feeders. Only occasionally would I have a baby on oxygen, or needing a lot of other assistance.

I ordered a book to read up on things, and I want to review my STABLE and NRP books. I'm not sure I'll have time to read much of them though. I too am trying to move (sort of...getting a room or apartment for the nights after I work) Plus I'm trying to get my kids prepared for school, and I have a medication exam on my first day of hospital orientation.

Good luck to you guys. I look forward to sharing this experience with you

Re: NEW NICU RN

If you guys are comfortable I would love to exchange email addresses, so we can talk via email! I have shadowed in the NICU a few times, and had a wonderful clinical instructor who has worked in the NICU for 20 yrs so she brought in some UAC lines, and other sorts of things, and showed me how they worked...although, just thinking about how much I don't know may be giving me an ulcer lol. I am on orientation with the feeders and growers until January (level 2), then once we are competent with the 2s we go back to orientation for the level 3 babies. Hope you guys are enjoying your summer, and can't wait to hear from you again!