short person wanting to work NICU

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2006

Oh yeah! Those things move up and down.I used to work with a little person. And I mean little.She was about 3'6". She need a step stool but got along fine.

Good luck!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2006

Actually the NICU is probably one of the best places for you to work. I'm 4'10" and have worked in both med-surg (as a CNA) and the NICU (as an RN). Med-surg was a nightmere. I was always having to lower the beds to do any work with the patients, and if it was a two-person transfer the other person was always much taller than me so as a result one of us wasn't comfortable with the bed height. Wheelchair transfers were especially hard. Walking people to the bathroom wasn't easy either because the patients were usually taller than me and I didn't feel safe holding them up.

Now, in the NICU, it's PERFECT. For one thing, many of the new isolettes and warmers have height adjustments on them so you can put them down as low as you want - and they go low enough, trust me. The newborn basinettes are always low and many of the taller nurses are always bending over with these, while I'm just fine. Cribs are usually fine, too. The older isolettes that don't move up and down are actually the perfect height for me - I stick my arms out and they go straight into the portholes! The taller nurses are always complaining about their backs when they have a baby in these isolettes. The only problem I have is with radiant warmers. If a baby is one a warmer PLUS a bedscale, they are tall enough for me to reach, but I can't look down on the baby to get an overview. There are always stepstools available though, so I will just grab one and put it under my warmer so I can use that. People kid me about it, sure, but it's not mean spirited at all. I work with a bunch of other nurses and respiratory therapists that are under 5 feet tall.

Sometimes it's hard for me to reach the alarms and monitors, but some of these are adjustable. I have trouble getting IV bags on and off the top of the IV poles, but I'll just grab a step stool for this as well or ask another nurse to get the bag up or down for me. It's nothing, really.

Sorry so long-winded, but I just wanted to tell you what to expect.

You'll be fine.

cathys01 · Jul 16, 2006

One of our Neonatologists is a tiny, tiny lady and she does great with the babies. We do have step stools at various places around the unit and some of the shorter nurses will just put one in their area if they have a warmer baby. Never been a problem for us.

rnpilot · Jul 16, 2006

I worked for about 10 years, and in two different NICUs, with someone that was 4'10" . Her only problem was her lack of common sense.

iHeartNICU · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks so much for the replies. I was starting to think that I wouldn't be able to work in NICU, which is the one place I really want to be. I don't mind using stepstools if need be and people kidding me doesn't phase me one bit. I'm right there laughing with them....usually. Thanks again, I'm feeling much better about this now and can't wait until I graduate in May!

2curlygirls · Jul 17, 2006

I'm a short NICU nurse! 5' to be precise. Most of the time it's no problem. I sometimes have issues with IV bags hung high. Then I have to get a stool or chair. When I was pregnant, everyone would freak out when I'd get on a chair to hang TPN. I have to use lifts to help hold for LP's, assist with PICC placements if the person I'm assisting has raised the bed.

The old crappy isolettes don't adjust so the tall nurses, MD's have to straddle or crouch. Probably 75% of the 200+ nurses in our unit are "short".

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2006

I'm 5'4 - hardly a tall girl - and I have found myself with an achy back from bending over isolettes and bassinets that were too low. I think you will be A-OK.