A little frustated

Published

Some background: I have been working as an aide since May 2012 and now have two different positions. First aide job, I have had since May 2012 in a Med-Surg unit at one hospital (I've applied to a L/D job, still waiting) and then I got promoted into a new job from another hospital in December 2012 from a sitter to an Orthopedic aide. Now, I just started a new job last week, a transfer from the Orthopedic unit to Labor and Delivery: High Risk OB.

However, I find myself frustrated. I want to work in the NICU and have tried to get in, but it is difficult. I wonder if I made the right decision leaving the Orthopedic unit to work in Antepartnum care. I feel as though I will NEVER get into the NICU as a new grad RN because I have no NICU experience as aide.

Did I make the right decision? How long did it take for you to get your "dream" job? Should I even bother continuing to search for a NICU tech position?

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

You have over 20 years to have kids. What is the rush?

Take any job with a good orientation and supportive staff, and let the chips fall where they may. You can't plan what you can't control. Chillax.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Over twenty years? A woman's fertility starts to rapidly decline at age 35, and I'll be almost 24 when I graduate with a BSN. If I went straight to NP school, that is another three years, putting me at 27. I definitely feel like time is not on my side. :(

But I see what you're all saying. The market is awful for new grads, so I can't afford to be super picky in regards to my first job. However, I have been in college since 2009, life got in the way, etc, and I'm ready to move forward with my life and have a career. I definitely feel like I'm playing "catch up."

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Specializes in Pedi.
Over twenty years? A woman's fertility starts to rapidly decline at age 35, and I'll be almost 24 when I graduate with a BSN. If I went straight to NP school, that is another three years, putting me at 27. I definitely feel like time is not on my side. :(

But I see what you're all saying. The market is awful for new grads, so I can't afford to be super picky in regards to my first job. However, I have been in college since 2009, life got in the way, etc, and I'm ready to move forward with my life and have a career. I definitely feel like I'm playing "catch up."

Fertility actually starts to decline somewhere around 26-27 but that doesn't mean that you must start having children by then or you will be childless. Women in their late 30s/early 40s are not infertile. Plenty of people have children at those ages. I am 29 and childless and not worried in the least.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Over twenty years? A woman's fertility starts to rapidly decline at age 35 and I'll be almost 24 when I graduate with a BSN. If I went straight to NP school, that is another three years, putting me at 27. I definitely feel like time is not on my side. :( But I see what you're all saying. The market is awful for new grads, so I can't afford to be super picky in regards to my first job. However, I have been in college since 2009, life got in the way, etc, and I'm ready to move forward with my life and have a career. I definitely feel like I'm playing "catch up."[/quote'] Um...my mother had us (my sister and I) at 32 and 34; my aunt had her child at 38... :blink: I'm 32 and just got my BSN a year ago...AFTER being on the "12 year program" to get a bachelors.

I may have had that feeling of "catch up" ONCE, until I snapped out of it :cheeky: and I realized that life produces no stepped approach of what is a right way to get things done. If I had it my way, if I ruled the world, ;) I would be a NP NOW, after 10 years of being an RN, however, I found other ways to achieve at nursing and will achieve this goal at a later date-I found a semi retirement plan! :)

No, I haven't found what my dream job looks like, but that doesn't get in my way of traveling, planing my wedding, as well as having a baby...fertility doesn't "rapidly decline"...it's totally dependent on the individual, if you REALLY want to know, heck, that's what fertility specialists are for. :blink:

My point is as others have pointed out-you're still young. Life is too dull the be controlled on our terms-and it never will be. ;) However, you can respond and be flexible to the live that is LIVED; you life will be much richer than you think, and you will have the opportunity to achieve those goals as well. :yes:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

1. You are lucky to be near NICUs that use aides, most don't. That being said, have you tried to get in peds or postpartum? That will help also. 2. Are you going for your BSN, if not do so. 3. Most NNP courses want you to have 2 years NICU experience, being an aide doesn't count. 4. Most people are waiting until their 30's to have their kids, your eggs will not be rotten. I 5. Don't set yourself on your dream job, NICU positions are hard to come by. Most hire new grads, but most NICU's have a low turn over. 6. Are you in the same system as a NICU that uses aides? Keep watching HR and apply when you see one open. Most places take internal transfers first and Inwould suspect that there are limited positions available. Remember, the best laid plans sometimes don't pan out. Having a life goal is great but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

We had our last child when my wife was 45. Time is on your side. Calm down.

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We had our last child when my wife was 45. Time is on your side. Calm down.

Your wife was exceptionally... (lucky? blessed? fertile?)

I am having in vitro fertilization done, and let me tell you- the reproductive endocrinologists talk as though it's a fricken miracle any women over the age of 32 ever gets pregnant, any time, anywhere.

Fertility does start to decline in the late 20s. Slowly, barely appreciably, but it picks up downhill speed at 32(ish), takes another dive at 38(ish), and all but comes to a stop by 42(ish).

But don't let that scare you OP- you do have some time here.

I think someone else posted about getting Peds experience- and that's how I ended up working in the NICU- I was hired as a Peds RN, and my hospital cross-trains Peds/PICU/NICU. I liked NICU (surprising myself) and now I work 50/50 Peds/PICU and NICU.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
We had our last child when my wife was 45. Time is on your side. Calm down.

Uh...raise your hand if you also thought Blue was a woman.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

Uh.....she might be.

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Uh...raise your hand if you also thought Blue was a woman.

For serious? The avatar, man... Take a look!!

Haha, also, I referred to him as Miss Manners once, and was summarily corrected.

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Just throwing it out there, that while many women are fertile until early 40s there are also some who can't conceive even in their 20s. Life might throw you a curveball in either direction, so, try to embrace the limits to what you can control and have a few backup plans for the things you'd like but might not get 100%. (You can adopt kids when you're older, or use a surrogate, etc.)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
We had our last child when my wife was 45. Time is on your side. Calm down.

Your wife is an exception, not the norm. I'm wanting to have all my kids by 35-37ish.

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