Need Encouragement/Advice...

BlueYYsRN · Aug 25, 2003

I had to leave nursing for 6 years and returned to a level III after having all of my experience come from newborn nursery and level II NICU. I have been back for 7 months now and I can tell you that the most important thing you need to learn right now is how to RELAX...yes...RELAX. Otherwise all the things you need to be absorbing will just bounce right off. I know exactly what feeling you are talking about. For me it was so bad that for the first few weeks I really thought I would throw up just going to work. I still get apprehensive at times but I have to actually tell myself to chill out, take deep breaths and untense my muscles. In the begining it was something I had to do on the way to work, now it happens when I go to take on a bigger challenge that is out of my comfort zone eventually your comfort zone will get bigger and bigger. The wonderful thing about NICU is that there is always someone there to ask. Question...question...question!

nicudaynurse · Aug 27, 2003

Moondancer,

Hang in there we have all been in your shoes. I was in the NICU full time for two and a half years and I loved it, but I always had some anxiety when I had to work. It can take a long time to work through it and everyone works through it at a different pace. I still work NICU PRN (a couple times a month) and I have another full time nursing job. NICU is still my primary love, but the stress was hard to deal with. In general I felt comfortable with most situations and I am a competent nurse in the NICU, but I also had a fear of the unknowns, what ifs, etc... Just take one shift at a time and try to relax!!

Good luck!!

cindylouwho · Aug 27, 2003

I've been a NICU nurse for 24 years and remember all too well the anxiety for the first couple of years.....you will get more confident and work will become easier....I still learn something everyday so don't think anyone knows it all and never has anything to learn.....neonatalogy changes so rapidly anyway.....hang in there and just ask for help..I never mind helping the newer nurses.....good luck

gypsyatheart · Aug 28, 2003

Thanks so much for your replies! I've been working a little more, and I'm getting back into the swing of things. I just love taking care of our little ones! I just have to keep my anxiety down, keep reassuring myself that I do know what I'm doing, and like you all said "Relax".Thanks!

magRN · Aug 29, 2003

Goodness friend....yes please try to relax, and that will come with time. If you have a bud in the NICU try to vent. and share...that helps me.....Yet.....after 25 years I still have an occational stress.

Like last night. Little one one week out on ncpap wouldn't breath...did the ussual w/u and in the process the xray tech moved the vent and of all things the pressure line was pulled out of the wall. Here on a kid who isn't breathing most of the time, and brady's to 50's the next! So I'm now quickly crawling on the floor finding the cable before something elso happens. Of the course the consultant was there at the time.

Well the baby certainly handled it better than I did! They ussually do! So keep you're chin up!!!!!:)