Externship in NICU - any advice?

[Nepenthe Sea]

I have been selected to participate in a nursing externship program this summer. I will spend six weeks in NICU, two weeks in PICU, and two weeks in MICU. I also get paid for it! I am super-excited. However, I do not have any health care experience, outside of my clinicals (in the midst of my second year). I did spend five weeks in NICU with my kids, helping to care for them, but I'm sure it's not the same. I'm a little nervous, so I wondered if any of you have any advice on how to make the most of my externship. Anything I should do or NOT do? Also, will it maybe make it a little easier to get a NICU job when I graduate? NICU is the area in which I am most interested. Thank you in advance for your help. :)

[babyNP., APRN]

Unfortunately, a lot of it rides on the kind of preceptor you get. If you get a good one that's open, ask a ton of questions. I would also look around the unit to see the sicker kids and ask the nurses (if they're receptive) questions about their patients. Good luck! and have fun :)

[LoveANurse09]

Try to take on the more challenging caesa,they might already give your preceptor these assignments. Pick one disease or condition from a patient each night and read about it. study up on causes,symptoms,treatments,and education for parents.

[Nepenthe Sea]

Thanks so much for your advice!

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I definitely think it would give you and edge in getting a NICU job!

[Nepenthe Sea]

Awesome! I hope so. thanks!

[DolphinRN27]

Hi NepentheSea,

Im a newly graduated RN and can tell you that my externship in the NICU was one of the main reasons I was hired as a new grad into the NICU. I had some stiff competition but I know my externship really set me apart from the rest.

As far as advice.. most of the other posters hit it. Be attentive, ask questions, and cooperate well with your preceptor. Try to make the best impression you can so that you can get a great letter of rec for when you are applying for jobs later. Hopefully you are lucky and land a good preceptor because that really can make or break your experience. Good Luck!

[Nepenthe Sea]

Thanks alot for the advice. I do plan on asking alot of questions, and am naturally drawn to the more challenging cases anyway. I appreciate the input.

I started OB clinicals last week and our instructor informed us that there was a mother pregnant with a 22-weeker who had PROM, but that she wasn't going to assign any of us to her since it was our very first day. I told her in private that in the future I would be okay with having a patient like that, and told her about my pending NICU externship. She gave me that patient that day! I felt like I may as well get used to that sort of thing, if I want to be a NICU nurse. So I'm already trying to get the challenging cases.

[LoveANurse09]

Thanks alot for the advice. I do plan on asking alot of questions, and am naturally drawn to the more challenging cases anyway. I appreciate the input.

I started OB clinicals last week and our instructor informed us that there was a mother pregnant with a 22-weeker who had PROM, but that she wasn't going to assign any of us to her since it was our very first day. I told her in private that in the future I would be okay with having a patient like that, and told her about my pending NICU externship. She gave me that patient that day! I felt like I may as well get used to that sort of thing, if I want to be a NICU nurse. So I'm already trying to get the challenging cases.

good for you! Instructors like when you take initiative;the staff do too.

[knufflebunny]

I know these posts are old, but I was hoping you can tell me where you got these externships. I have been extensively searching the web trying to find some and I am not having any luck.

[sophie<3]

I did a 10 week nicu externship and loved it! ask questions, jump in and help others when given the opportunity and get to know the unit manager and other nurses..there is a good chance that if they like you they will want you to stay :)

I did my externship in lexington ky