Just applied to NICU

Specialties NICU

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi there! I've been a nurse for 7 yrs. All my experience has been with adults! (From Med-Surg, IMC, to ICU). I am nervous about starting in the NICU. Any advice for what I will need to review for NALS or NRP?? Is NRP the new NALS?? I work at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, NV. I'm hoping to work in their NICU.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Hoping to work in NICU, or already have a promised position in NICU? From what I hear it is a particularly difficult floor to get hired on.

Also...you may want to edit your post to remove the name of your employer.

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Specializes in NICU.

NALS and NRP are the same thing from what I've been able to gather. I heard about "NALS" as a nursing student and was told that they were the same thing and after 5 years of being a NICU RN, I have never heard of a program offering "NALS," only NRP.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

NALS was the first name for NRP... Neonatal advanced life support :)

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Hello KBRN2002

I am in a similar situation but start a position in the NICU in a few weeks. If you like... I will share some of my early experiences on this via PM with you after I start.

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

Good luck! I have only adult experience and have not been able to get hired in a NICU for the past 6 years.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.
...Also...you may want to edit your post to remove the name of your employer.

Really. That would be a terrific idea.

There will be some days when you wonder if neonates are a different species. Turns out to be sorta true. Many, many things you know abt adults will not be true for babies,esp premies.

If you haven't already acquired a Merenstein and Gardner, get one and several hi-lighters as well. Start working on that. Review fetal circulation.

[COLOR=#003366]Neofax 2013 - free eBooks download is a good reference.

Best wishes. Check back w/us.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Took a while, but I finally started in the NICU! I'm only in the second week of orientation. Does anyone know why we hold feedings for an infant with a temp below 36.2? (Does it have to do with metabolism)?

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Specializes in NICU.

Congrats! There is no hard and fast rule regarding feeds and temperature and I don't work at your facility, but here is some of the Patho:

Normal temperature is at least 36.5 for infants. If a baby is colder than this, they have an increased metabolic demand and less blood is shunted to the gut (survival mode is blood to your brain and heart), therefore increased chance of necrotizing enterocolitis. Plus hypothermia is a sign of sepsis...and no feeding kids when they are on the decline, for similar reasons as related above.

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