Advice from any NICU preceptors??

NICU_babyRN, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2010

Since you'll have different preceptors it will be REALLY helpful to keep track of things you've seen and done so you can share them with your preceptors at the start of each shift. Keep in mind some preceptors may be more accommodating than others. So here's an example:

Day 1: 30 wk, 1500gram, intubated infant, NPO, Umbilical lines, multiple drugs & 38wk infant of diabetic mom (IDM) with multiple blood draws, difficulty eating.

Day 2: Observed care of 500gm 24 wkr

Day 3: observed admission of twins...

day 4....

So in general, you want to keep a notebook with notes from each day but at the end of the day you want to summarize so you can give your preceptors a snap shot of what you've seen.

Don't be alarmed if the preceptors don't let you do much at first. If you don't ask questions they may not know what to talk about. The NICU is SO different that you want to be sure you ask your questions!

If you hear during report "overnight her belly blew up and it's totally blue now" you might not have a clue what the nurse means but your preceptor is ON IT and knows it's bad news! So you'll have to ask her "what does she mean by a blue belly"?

this is just an example so i'm sorry if you already know what a blue belly could be!

Be organized and tidy! And please leave your cell phone OFF and away from your hands, same with e-mail.

Shanlee79 · Dec 24, 2010

Since you'll have different preceptors it will be REALLY helpful to keep track of things you've seen and done so you can share them with your preceptors at the start of each shift. Keep in mind some preceptors may be more accommodating than others. So here's an example:
Day 1: 30 wk, 1500gram, intubated infant, NPO, Umbilical lines, multiple drugs & 38wk infant of diabetic mom (IDM) with multiple blood draws, difficulty eating.
Day 2: Observed care of 500gm 24 wkr
Day 3: observed admission of twins...
day 4....
So in general, you want to keep a notebook with notes from each day but at the end of the day you want to summarize so you can give your preceptors a snap shot of what you've seen.
Don't be alarmed if the preceptors don't let you do much at first. If you don't ask questions they may not know what to talk about. The NICU is SO different that you want to be sure you ask your questions!
If you hear during report "overnight her belly blew up and it's totally blue now" you might not have a clue what the nurse means but your preceptor is ON IT and knows it's bad news! So you'll have to ask her "what does she mean by a blue belly"?
this is just an example so i'm sorry if you already know what a blue belly could be!
Be organized and tidy! And please leave your cell phone OFF and away from your hands, same with e-mail.

Thank-you for the reply! No, I have no clue about blue bellys. I am anticipating that I will be learning alot. I was hesitant at first in picking NICU for practicum as it is the area we learned the least about in school. However, I am the kind of gal who learns best "on the job" and I need to visualize and ask the questions as I go. I have purchased the core curriculum book and begun compiling a notebook to which I have pasted some common conditions, meds & procedures specific to the neonate but I really like your suggestion to include a daily log of my activities too. I will definitely incorporate this into my notebook. Thanks!

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Dec 28, 2010

My advice is to be approachable, teachable, and friendly. Listen to report, go look up labs, meds, and look at x-rays and head ultrasounds.

Offer to feed babies. Offer to help out nurses other than your preceptor (ask first, of course) Ask the delivery room nurse if he/she can take you when a delivery happens. Ask the RT to explain the vent to you.

Make sure you're there for rounds, so you can learn what is happening with each patient you and your preceptor are caring for. Take time to talk with parents. You don't have to answer any questions about NICU you don't have answers for, but just get a sense of what it's like to be a NICU parent.

Introduce yourself to the manager, educator, etc. Remain positive and professional around them. Who knows, you may want to ask for a job from them when you're through!

Shanlee79 · Dec 29, 2010

My advice is to be approachable, teachable, and friendly. Listen to report, go look up labs, meds, and look at x-rays and head ultrasounds.
Offer to feed babies. Offer to help out nurses other than your preceptor (ask first, of course) Ask the delivery room nurse if he/she can take you when a delivery happens. Ask the RT to explain the vent to you.
Make sure you're there for rounds, so you can learn what is happening with each patient you and your preceptor are caring for. Take time to talk with parents. You don't have to answer any questions about NICU you don't have answers for, but just get a sense of what it's like to be a NICU parent.
Introduce yourself to the manager, educator, etc. Remain positive and professional around them. Who knows, you may want to ask for a job from them when you're through!

Some really good advice! What I am most looking forward to during this experience is that I will be the only student on the unit, so hopefully I will be able to get really involved as you suggested. I found in my other med/surg peds rotation, there were way too many of us students at a given time and therefore limited my learning opportunities. I will be sure to keep in mind that this is a possible 3 month long interview as well! Thanks for your reply.