Poll: What do you love about the NICU?

nicunurse2004 · Aug 29, 2006

Some of the things I love about the nicu is that I get to help parents learn to take care of there new children. I also enjoy the critical aspects of the unit from the vents to the drips we infuse. I also enjpy watching the babies for the most part start to improve and see the smiles on their moms and dads faces as the watch them get closer and closer to going home. I also love how laid back our unit can be and the fun my coworkers and I can have while taking care of the babes. This is just a few if I had more time im sure I could come up with a longer list.

CJRN02 · Sep 23, 2006

Wow! I'm new here and these posts really made me realize how much I LOVE what I do. Currently, we moved to a place that doesn't have a NICU and these posts are making me have NICU withdrawls. For the same reasons that everyone has said...seems like a tape recorder of my own thoughts....I love the NICU. I was called to be a baby nurse from the time I was a little girl. It is the only thing I ever wanted to do. First, it was a baby doctor, then realized I would be 30 before I got to do patient care, and decided being a NICU nurse would be better, and by the time I was 21, landed myself in a nursery where I thought to myself every day...I can't believe I get paid to do this?!? I have the best job in the entire world! I could repeat what the other posts said, but I will just say to anyone who is wondering what it's like being a NICU nurse these posts pretty much sum it up. It is the most challenging and rewarding job I could ever dream of. The only thing I have ever disliked about my job was the noise (worked mostly in a 50 bed open bay unit where you heard alarms going off and babies crying 24/7) and that was really overstimulating after 12-13 hours. Oh, and the babies born addicted to drugs or with FAS. That always infuriated me and made me want to strangle the mother instead of help her. The shear fact that those babies could have been perfect if it weren't for their ignorant, selfish mothers. Good luck to anyone who choses this field. I gaurentee you won't regret it.

gypsy queen · Nov 23, 2006

to be truthful I never wanted to work there...but I was Just posted there 15 years ago......now I am hooked....I love the tiny little feet of premies...the smiles and truthful thank yous of parents.....all babies large and small with thier different charectrs which they show from start....you just cannot help loving them and giving all that you know to achieve maximum care

fun1007 · Nov 28, 2006

Hello everyone, I am a new member! I was a NICU baby (@ 25 weeks) and aspire to become a NICU RN. I cannot explain the pull I have to work in this specialty. This sticky provides wonderful insight! Thank you.

Nicuvic · Dec 4, 2006

Nicu is the best! All of the other posts sum it up correctly and give the right answers. Where else can you change the bed while holding your patient? What other ICU puts their pts in swings? The gratification of seeing a very sick baby become a "gainer/grower" is amazing and helping the family through this journey is quite a rewarding experience.

Nicuvic

preemieRNkate, RN · Dec 5, 2006

I love when I'm the first nurse to let a parent hold their baby. Especially when the baby was really sick and finally turns the corner and is stable enough to be held. Over the summer we had 24 week twins that were really sick; vented, on pressors, etc. Dad was so scared to even walk in the door, and one night I finally convinced him to hold one of his girls. He happened to be wearing a button-down shirt, and I managed to not only convince him to hold his daughter, but to kangaroo her! The look on his face was priceless, and when he saw her heart rate come down and her sats go up, and I weaned her O's, he understood what I meant when I told him that it would be good for both of them.

I love my job!

lcc1080 · Dec 15, 2006

I'm considering applying to the NiCU course, beginning soon at a local peds hospital. This would be a change for me, from adult med/surg. After having back problems for a few yrs., would like to know others' advice - if there are any problematic things such as bending for long periods (over bed). I assumed that the lifting problem is non-existent, but read another member's post about the bending for long periods. Thanks in advance - it's been great reading all of your posts on this topic!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2006

I start my level III NICU job on January 8. I am a new grad who did my senior practicum in the NICU. At first I didn't think the NICU was for me, I was overwhelmed by the responsibility. I eventually became more comfortable. I now can't imagine being a nurse anywhere besides the NICU. I was fortunate in that I was hired onto the NICU I did my practicum at. I can't wait to start my job and I hope I will have a long and happy career there.

I love almost everything about the NICU. I especially love the babies, they are my heroes. Their only life experience is being sick, despite this they fight to live, not yet knowing there is more to life than pain and being sick. The power of their spirits amaze me.

twinkletoes53 · Jan 24, 2007

:welcome: Everything! The babies, family, staff, doctors, nurses, and all support personnel. I have worked NICU for 26 years, and would not trade my job for all the money in the world. Every baby and family is precious, and to see a micro-preemie grow to a chunky 4 lb. baby is awesome. I enjoy teaching parents and involving them in their baby's care. I love that I can work a weekend option shift (24 hours/week), and still have full benefits. New technology and treatment continues to evolve, so I am never "tired' of what I do. We treat all types of birth defects and surgical emergencies in our NICU. Our hospital has participated in several national research trials that have lead to FDA approval of new and better forms of treatment, such as head cooling and inhaled nitric oxide. I have never stopped learning, or studying. It is a joy to have a parent write our unit after their child has been discharged, with photos of how well they are doing. Yes, we do lose babies, and we do grieve for those who do not make it, or are severely disabled. I cry, but find peace in knowing that I did everything possible to save that baby and support his family. I welcome new employees, love teaching, and yes, I DO remember that "Everyone has a first day at their new job".

Sanforkl · Feb 14, 2007

I am so glad that I stumbled upon this website thanks to a friend's referral and I am so glad to have stumbled upon this forum of NICU nurses. I am in my very first semester of nursing and I have been praying and hoping for an answer as to what kind of nurse I am supposed to be. The NICU came along last year just as I was starting out doing pre-reqs to try to get into nursing school. A friend had a baby that went into the NICU right when school started. I went to visit. I fell in love with NICU but was too afraid especially after my friend's baby passed away due to heart complications. Then the very same friend, exactly one year later had another baby who ended up in the same NICU on the same wing, two beds down from where her last baby's bed was. I went to visit again. I fell in love again (and this time I am happy to report that this baby is going home tomorrow!!) To make a long story short, many circumstances have led me to the point where today I made the decision that the only place I want to be a nurse is the NICU. I am beyond excited and beyond hopeful. It gives new meaning to school to have a goal in mind for when I graduate. It is highly motivating to know that this is what you feel you are meant to do. And it is also very encouraging to read everyone's post on here about the loves of the NICU. Everything that you all have said seems to make me feel in my heart, beyond a shadow of doubt that this will be my future. Thank you all for your wonderful words. :)

desilu92 · Feb 14, 2007

No Crumping, I just wanted to let you know that I printed out your response on a 4x6 index card while I was in nursing school to let me know what I would be getting myself into. I was able to enroll in a new grad program at a children's hospital and have now been an NICU nurse for a little over a year. I still have the index card placed on a bulletin board in my spare bedroom and still refer to it when I 've had a bad day. So thank you for your words of wisdom. They made a difference in my life!!!

babybums · Feb 17, 2007

I love the babies! You see them at their worst and then get to see them when they finally get to go home it makes me feel like all the work and stress that you go through is worth it. I love it when the parents come back and visit and they are so grateful and happy to see the nurses who took care of their baby.