by Bortaz, RN

Any advice that would help me be as prepared as possible?

So thankful for the opportunity to get this preceptorship, thankful for the RN that has agreed to precept me, and for the hospital for allowing me into their NICU. Hoping that it will lead to an offer of employment there in the NICU for when I finish this last bit of school at the end of September (Pinning on Oct 2 - whee).

My wonderful wife bought me an infant steth for our anniversary on Aug 28, so I'm set there. Anything else I should take with me? Anything I should study up on beforehand? I do plan to do a review on ventilators.

I'm an older student, a grandpa who spent 15 or so years working on death row in the state prison (corrections officer and supervisor), and have known since the first semester of my program that I want to work in NICU. This is a level IIIb NICU, and the manager of the dept has told me they're starting to handle cardiac surgeries and that they train all their nurses in chemotherapy as well. I feel it'd be a great spot for me to get a few years experience in the field.

A bit nervous, I must admit, but my preceptor seems to really enjoy mentoring, and we hit it off pretty well at our first meeting. I have to do 160 hours with her throughout the month of September. She told me to relax, ask lots of questions, and that she'd soon have me so busy I won't have time to be nervous. LOL, sounds good to me!

So, anything I should study/do/buy to be better prepared for my first day?

Thanks!

Old fart NICU hopeful!

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Congrats! Just wanted to wish you good luck and I hope you get an offer to work there. I can't wait to precept in the NICU next semester.

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Congratulations on getting a preceptorship in the NICU. You'll love it! Check with your preceptor or instructor before using your stethoscope. The NICU I work in has a designated stethoscope at each baby's bedside and nurses and docs are not allowed to use thier own stethoscope. For infection control reasons!!

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Originally Posted by I'mANurse!

Congratulations on getting a preceptorship in the NICU. You'll love it! Check with your preceptor or instructor before using your stethoscope. The NICU I work in has a designated stethoscope at each baby's bedside and nurses and docs are not allowed to use thier own stethoscope. For infection control reasons!!

Thanks for the steth advice! That's very helpful indeed.

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Get ahold of a Neofax, which is the NICU pharm Bible.....

If you have an iPhone or iTouch, check out the medical calculator and jaundice calculator apps...

Also, you may want to start looking up the most common neonatal diagnoses

Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Hyperbilirubinemia
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Retinopathy of prematurity
GERD
Apnea of Prematurity
Sepsis
Hypoglycemia r/t maternal diabetes
Intraventricular hemorrhage/germinal matrix hemorrhage.

Also, check out high-frequency oscillator and jet ventilation therapies, inhaled nitric oxide therapy, as well as surfactant therapy (Curosurf, Survanta and Infasurf)


This should be enough to get you started....

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Thanks, Steve! My preceptor assigned me a few of those things to research, and I appreciate you adding to the list. One really common dx that I've seen so far has been gastroschisis, so I'm spending tonight learning about that.

I spent part of yesterday reading MARs and researching meds in the Neofax on the unit.

I do have an iPhone, and was just today showing my preceptor some of the apps available...she'd never seen one and was intrigued. I need to find the jaundice calculator, though, as I hadn't come across that one.

They actually sent me home today, because the cold/flu/sore throat that I'd had 2 weeks ago made its way to my wife, who promptly reinfected me. I had fever, so we decided I'd go home rather than risk the babies.

It's been 3 days so far, and I am having a wonderful experience. Thanks again!

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

No problem.

The Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing is a great reference, as is Merenstein & Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal ICU Nursing...

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Congratulations Steve! I too did my senior preceptorship last year in a level III nicu and it was a FABULOUS experience!!! You will love it! I graduated from school in March and on Monday I start at the NICU I precepted at as an RN!!! So it does happen! Good luck!

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

I was told by the NICU director today that they are happy with my performance so far, and she intends to offer me a job in this NICU once I've completed preceptorship and registered for NCLEX.


Am I allowed to yell, "HELL YEAH!" in here? WooP!

Re: Starting Clinical Preceptorship in NICU Sept 3...

Congrats BortaZinTx!!!
I am happy for you!
I will start orientation on Sept 28, I am soo excited