Switching to NICU

Specialties NICU

Published

Hello, all!

I am currently an active duty soldier serving in the Army at a military hospital. I am planning to separate from active duty in 2014 and am looking into civilian jobs. I have always enjoyed babies but never had a chance to work with little ones--I've always been on adult oncology, adult infusion, adult med/surg, etc.

My question is, what kind of additional training do you have that is specific to NICU? I currently have BLS and ACLS. I have seen some hospitals list NRP (?) as a requirement and some hospitals have their own NICU courses that are 5-10 hours as a prereq.

I know I'm at a disadvantage applying for a NICU job without experience in peds. Aside from hospital-specific courses, is there anything I can get as far as certifications/classes that might prepare me or make me more competitive for a job in NICU?

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

NRP is Neonatal Resuscitation Program. Neonatal Resuscitation Program - Home

Most NICUs will put you in a new grad type program if you are coming from adult nursing. All your experiences (fantastic, by the way) and most nsg education are focused on grown-ups. Neonates are a whole 'nother species! jmo You do have some great skills, and that will help, but @ 1st, you'll feel a bit overwhelmed.

Get a copy of Merenstein and Gardner and a Neofax--this will get you started. If you can take an NRP course, great. If the hospital you're stationed at has a NICU, perhaps you could talk to the NM about shadowing. I think you have a lot to offer. Good Luck!

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Hey prmenrs, thanks so much for the advice! I kinda anticipated that I'll feel like a fish out of water amongst the little ones, but (as it appears you were military, you can probably appreciate this) I'm kinda used to that and have come to really enjoy the challenge of taking on a new work area every couple of years. I'd be only too happy to join the new grads in a class and learn from the basics on up!

Unfortunately, the hospital I'm stationed at doesn't have a NICU, otherwise I'd be all over that. I will pick up those texts you mentioned and try to get things rolling with the NRP. Thanks so much again!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Is there a hospital nearby that has a NICU? Preferrably a university/teaching hospital type facility, or a Children's hospital. You need to see a Level 3 unit. (Unlike trauma, NICU level 1 is a newborn nursery, level 2 takes care of "intermediate" babies, level 3 has the really sick/intensive babies.)

I'm not military, but my dad was--hence the "go navy".

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There is a large teaching hospital nearby, but due to sequestration, I seriously doubt I will be able to get in to see one. Military has to request permission to shadow/work on the civilian side, and we are about to get tasked out big time to cover for the loss of our DOD civilians. They're talking about 60-80 hours a week on rotating shifts.

However, I have seen a Level 3 NICU before back in nursing school during clinicals and enjoyed all 24 hours I got to spend there. It piqued my curiosity in a way that I haven't forgotten. Initially, I was interested in nursing because of OB--specifically because of the babies. I don't know that I could work OB and keep my sanity anymore, but I've wanted to go the critical care route for a while and NICU seems like the logical marriage of the two.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

"...60-80 hours a week on rotating shifts."

Gulp! God bless!

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"...60-80 hours a week on rotating shifts."

Gulp! God bless!

Thanks! I'll take all the blessing I can get!

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Specializes in NICU.

prmenrs, neofax is GONE!!! : ( actually, it's no longer going to be available in print form, my educator said, but online form. I'm so disappointed.

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I looked for it and the texts I found on Amazon are about $800 a pop. Yikes!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

OKaaaay. Let's not get that!

NeoFax - Truven Health Analytics

Turns out there's an app for that! Another app you can get is a "bilirubin" app. Enter the baby's age in hours, and the [indirect] bili levels, it tells you whether the baby needs phototherapy. There are several, not $$. There's also a gestational age app.

Have fun in the iTunes store.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

@babyRN--nuts! I do like real books sometimes. Oh, well!

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