Icu

[RNCoastiewife]

Will ICU or CCU experience help one get into the NICU?

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

It can't hurt because you will have critical thinking skills, but you have to relearn a lot of things as adult and neos are on the opposite spectrum :)

[Love_2_Learn]

I agree with NicuGal. I've worked with nurses who came from adult critical care units and their experience has been helpful but it's true that babies are different than adults and some things are done differently. You will learn in your orientation and hopefully you can get some good neonatal nursing books (see the sticky's on this NICU forum for good ones) and join one or two national neonatal nursing organizations for even more helpful information and support. You will do fine!

[rockabye]

I think icu and nursery or mother/baby units would be the best second choices for experience towards NICU. Like another poster mentioned, icu gives you those critical thinking skills so you learn how to act quick on your feet and are familiar with ventilators, lab values, and unstable patients. Well baby nursery or mother/baby units will help you in time-management skills and have a good baseline for what a "normal" newborn is and standard medical care. It also helps with the mother-baby bonding experience. Good luck!