NICU nurse-this is what I want to be! (some questions about it)

Specialties NICU

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Hello all,

I'm not a nurse, I'm not even in school at the moment, but I'm dying to be! I am currently working as a NICU assistant at a hospital in England. I'm living here for the next year and 1/2 (my husband is military), and I have a few questions about getting into the Neonatal field. Here is what is on my mind, I hope someone can give me some advice.

I have about 3 to 4 semesters worth of college under my belt. General classes mostly, but some LPN classes from a technical college. I am wanting to get back into school, and finish my BSN, RN degree. I specifically want to work in the NICU.

1. I was going to wait until fall semester 2007 to start back up with my school in the United States, and just go back full time, but I don't think I can wait that long. Is there any type of program online etc that I can start taking some classes now? I only want to take classes if they will help later count towards my nursing degree. I'm desperate to get back in school and while I want to be in the classroom setting any school would help right now. I don't think it would be worth it to start a school here in England as we won't be here long enough for me to finish, and US has different nursing policies.

2. I work in the NICU as mentioned earlier and I love the enviornment and seeing how the nurses work. What do NICU nurses in the US do? What are some general things you do in the day as a NICU nurse? As far as I know there are no RTs in our unit. I think the nurses/doctors handle it all.

3. Most of our nurses do 12.5 hour shifts (7:30-8). Is this the general shift for NICU nurses? Do you have to do nights? I think mostly our nurses do 13 shifts a month, 7 days, and 6 nights. Is this the same in the US? Also what is the average pay in your NICU unit?

4. Lastly, after you finish your RN degree, how do people get into the NICU? Is there extra classes to take? Do you do on job training under a senior nurse? I had been thinking about this field for a few years now and since I got my job working in the NICU, I know this is where I want to be. I'm just not sure how to get there.

Thanks for reading my post. You nurses do great work. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

Catherine

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Specializes in NICU- now learning OR!.

You have asked a ton of questions. What I suggest:

Take some time to read past postings on this site...most of your questions have been asked and answered at one time or another.

Get into a good nursing school in the US and skip the online stuff unless it is a pre-req. class like math or english..and make sure that the credit transfers to the nursing school you want to go to.

Last, every unit in every hospital is different as far as shifts, pay, responsibilities, etc. it will depend on where you live.

Our unit is 12.5 shifts (7-7:30) and the only people that they are hiring are "rotators" ie: midnights for awhile, then days for awhile. We receive a very good orientation/class time and classes periodically to maintain our skills.

Good luck! Remember to keep an open mind in nursing school..there may be multiple areas of nursing that you are drawn to

Jenny

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Hello all,

I'm not a nurse, I'm not even in school at the moment, but I'm dying to be! I am currently working as a NICU assistant at a hospital in England.

Hi there! I was wondering since you say you work as an assistant in a NICU, did you have to obtain a CNA certificate to do so? I want to work in a hospital, but I do not have a CNA yet, and NICU is also what area I want to work in. I want to go to school for the CNA first before I go into the RN program, since CNA is a shorter program and I could be doing that while in school... however, no schools offer financial aid for it.

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Hi there! I was wondering since you say you work as an assistant in a NICU, did you have to obtain a CNA certificate to do so? I want to work in a hospital, but I do not have a CNA yet, and NICU is also what area I want to work in. I want to go to school for the CNA first before I go into the RN program, since CNA is a shorter program and I could be doing that while in school... however, no schools offer financial aid for it.

No, I don't have a CNA certificate to work as a NICU assistant. But I'm in England at the moment so I'm not sure what US standards are. You don't do anything with the babies as a NICU assistant.

Basically my job entails cleaing equipment (drip stands, iv pumps, incubators etc), stocking nursing trolleys, stocking store cupboards, running errands, answering phones, doing baby laundry, and doing coffee rounds for the nursing staff. Pretty general stuff but you do get to know the nurses and be around and see the babies and how the unit works. It's great to see if that's really the field you want to go into to.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Hello all,

I want to work in a hospital, but I do not have a CNA yet, and NICU is also what area I want to work in. I want to go to school for the CNA first before I go into the RN program, since CNA is a shorter program and I could be doing that while in school... however, no schools offer financial aid for it.

I am currently taking a CNA class right now, the packet of information that our instructors gave says that if you find employment within your first year of passing the board exam that your employer must reimburse you. Also go the your states Board of Nursing website and the site should list all the places that are certified to teach CNA classes, some which are LTC and will give you the class for free as ling as you work for them for a certain amount of time.

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I'm starting nursing school this fall. I had some pre reqs and A&P I and II online. New York has a state college program that offers a lot of classes online. In my particular online "class" there were students from all over the world.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

How cool! I can speak to the issue of being a military wife overseas wanting to get into or finish nursing school. I started nursing school in 1977 and then dropped out and joined the US Navy. I got sent to Japan in 1978, met hubby and got married. I did several classes there with University of Maryland (just general stuff). Then, we moved to Spain, did a few more general classes. Then, hubby did a remote tour to Greenland and I came back to the States with two small kids - didn't go to school that year. Then, on to Alaska where I got an associates degree in general studies. Then, we went to Korea for two years and I started a bachelors degree in psychology but wasn't able to finish it. Finially (12 years later in 1990), ended up in Las Vegas where I quickly finished an LPN program because 18 months later we got orders again. Ended up back in Indianapolis where I finished my ADN. Now...we live in IL and I've completed my BSN and MSN online and then did a post-MSN clinical nurse specialist!

What I'm trying to say is that it was very difficult to stay at one school in order to get my pre-reqs done and then do the program. So...if your hubby can't stay somewhere long, it might be better to do things piece-meal. However, if he can homestead, go straight for the BSN.

Good luck and thanks for YOUR service - I know how hard it is to be a military wife.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Well, let's get back to answering your original questions.....

I am a NICU RN with my BSN currently working in a level III NICU in SC. I agree with Jenny.....skip the online stuff unless it transfers into the school you want, and just wait until you get back to the States to start school. While you are in school, make sure your advisors/clinical instructors know what your interest is, and see if you can at least rotate through a NICU as a SN, if not complete your practicum/residency (usually 4-10 weeks at the end of school where you basically "work" on a floor) there. Check out the book lists at the top of the forum for some reading material. Also, keep checking out this forum....you can learn a lot just by "lurking."

The easiest way to get into a NICU I feel is to do a practicum at the NICU you want, and get to know everyone, letting them get a feel for the asset you want to be to the unit. Usually the Nurse Manager will be more than happy to hire someone who she has a better feel for, after seeing them day after day as a student.

Most hospitals in the US run on 7a-7p, 7p-7a shifts, with some doing 7-3, 3-11, 11-7 shifts. It all depends on your facility. Check out Salary.com for the average salary in the location you want....I've found it to be pretty accurate. You may have to work nights for a while, as NICUs are pretty competitive to get into. I am just now going to days after 14 months, and that's pretty quick compared with some of the senior nurses who waited 6 years! I guess it's just one of the benefits of the nursing shortage!

The average NICU nurse spends his/her shift performing detailed assessments, recording and assessing vitals, administering meds, IV drips, urinary caths, chest tubes, oro/nasogastric feeds, working with both conventional and high-frequency-oscillator ventilators, suctioning, collecting labs, attending high risk deliveries, resuscitating infants, administering blood products and emergency meds, teaching/working with parents, consulting with MD's/residents/NNP's, working alongside Speech/OT/PT, Respiratory therapists, teaching infants to bottle feed......and the list goes on.

At my unit, we have 3 RT's on eaech shift that we work closely with to adjust/maintain our vents/NC's and CPAP's, intubate infants, and go to deliveries with. We have no residents in our unit, only 3 Neos.

While it's not your typical unit, it works well.......

Hope this helps.....good luck, and keep us posted!

Stevern21

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