How did you end up in the NICU?

Specialties NICU

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How did you end up with your NICU career? Did you know you wanted to be there from the time you were in school (or before)? Did you do a clinical rotation there? Have kids in a NICU?

Me - I always wanted to work there since I started nursing school and I got lucky enough to do a semester long clinical rotation in one.

Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
Unless they grab you by the chest hair :>P

:lol2::lol2: Am sooo glad I have none!:lol2:

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

I rotated into the NICU from post-partum, initially for three months. Actually cried my eyes out at the thought of going there, (oh my POOR hubby..what he had to put up with!) I was sure I would hate it. Well, nearly Eight years later....I'm still there, Lovin it! Can't imagine being anywhere else, would never go back to L&D, or post partum now. This is me forever....and ever...........and ever.............etc ;)

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Random post, but don't you love it when you're about to leave at the end of your shift, and one of your coworkers gently points out that you have dried baby barf all down your shoulder....and you realize you've burped so many kids on that shoulder you never noticed?

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Steve, you are a wee breath of fresh air, even with baby barf all down you babe! Wish we had you in our NICU!:lol2:

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Specializes in Level III NICU.
Random post, but don't you love it when you're about to leave at the end of your shift, and one of your coworkers gently points out that you have dried baby barf all down your shoulder....and you realize you've burped so many kids on that shoulder you never noticed?

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Or some other unidentifiable crud on you somewhere?? The way I look at it, unless I went to the DR that night and there is the potential for it to be something out of a mom, it's just baby goo! Whatever it is, how bad could it be?

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Specializes in NICU.
:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Or some other unidentifiable crud on you somewhere?? The way I look at it, unless I went to the DR that night and there is the potential for it to be something out of a mom, it's just baby goo! Whatever it is, how bad could it be?

Ostomy "goo", even from a 2lb baby is never pleasant...

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Specializes in Level III NICU.
Ostomy "goo", even from a 2lb baby is never pleasant...

Oh yeah, ostomy goo is the exception to the rule!

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Specializes in NICU.
Oh yeah, ostomy goo is the exception to the rule!

Oh, god, and you can smell it for DAYS, no matter how much you shower. Ew, I feel like I can smell it now, and I'm a continent away from my job and it's been a week since I had an ostomy baby. :barf01:

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Specializes in NICU.

I swear that whenever I get even the tiniest amount of Ampicillin anywhere on my hands - I can smell it for days. No matter how many times I wash my hands, that smell seems to stay there for days...

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Specializes in Level III NICU.
I swear that whenever I get even the tiniest amount of Ampicillin anywhere on my hands - I can smell it for days. No matter how many times I wash my hands, that smell seems to stay there for days...

Oh, no kidding!

To answer the original post, I sort of happened upon NICU. I didn't always know I wanted to be there, I didn't even always know I wanted to be a nurse. I started out college thinking I wanted to be an earth science teacher. Then I became a volunteer EMT while in college, and also started working in a pediatrician's office. I always loved science, and then I discovered that I really loved the medical field. My best friend and I went through nursing school together (thank goodness, otherwise I'm not sure I would've made it through!). My only experience with NICU in school was a half-day of clinical spent observing in the NICU (basically, getting in the way). Then I did a summer externship in L&D cause that's what I THOUGHT I wanted to do. It was in a hospital with a level III, so I did see a few preemies delivered and then whisked off to NICU and that's about it. I remember a baby that was probably 28-30 weeks or so, and thinking that it was the smallest baby EVER!! When I started interviewing for jobs, I had by that point decided I wanted to be with kids, so I was trying to land a job in peds or PICU. One hospital (where I have been for my entire career thus far) said, "well, we have no current positions in peds of PICU, but maybe you would consider checking out NICU?" And that's where I am, and at this point I'm almost certain it's for good.

Wow, that was long! Thanks to those who actually read it all!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

When I was a student, I spent a week in the "premie" nursery. I liked it a lot.

When I graduated, I liked everything x peds and psych. I worked for ~ 3yrs in med-surg, adult ICU. Went to visit a friend one morning after I got off work, she was in "special care". I thought that might be interesting, so I transferred there. Eventually, I did some other stuff, too, but returned to NICU in 1983 to stay.

After I retired from the "big hospital", I got a per diem job in a level 2 nsy, so I'm still doing babies!

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