Any Kansas City NICU Nurses Here

ICN RN · Sep 3, 2008

I work at CMH. I went to nursing school at KU also, and did my practicum at one of the other area NICUs. This NICU is the best for a lot of reasons. I like it here because we are the referral center for the region, and see all different kinds of kiddos. I love it here, and wouldn't work anywhere else.

We'd love to have you!!

If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

4jen · Sep 3, 2008

Thanks so much for the reply. I really want to work at CMH. Honestly I am willing to work on another unit at CMH and transfer later than go to a different hospital. I loved my clinicals there!

How was your orientation?

Also how is the staff? Are they supportive?

Thanks so much for the information.

Jen

Jolie, BSN · Sep 3, 2008

I worked in the NICU at CMH a number of years ago. I agree that orientation and staff education was excellent, quality of patient care was good and the variety of patients was fascinating.

But the working conditions were unacceptable to me. The unit was poorly managed, staffing, scheduling and OT were horrible, the pay was not competitive with other facilities (It's a privilege to work in a Children's Hospital, you know!) and nurses were burning out right and left. During the year that I was there, there was a large exodus of staff from the unit, myself included.

In all fairness, that was a long time ago, and things may have changed. I certainly hope so. But I caution you not to be dazzled by the "Children's Hospital" label, and investigate the unit thoroughly. Ask to shadow staff nurses a few times and take note of their asignments. Do they seem reasonable? Do they change multiple times during a shift? I can't tell you the number of times I worked 12 hours without so much as a potty or drink break. Ask the staff about OT, on-call obligations, whether or not they get to take earned vacation time, whether they are forced to rotate shifts, what their overall satisfaction is with the unit, management and staffing.

I quit without having another job lined up because my health was being ruined by constant rotation of shifts, long stretches of 12 hour shifts without a day off and working conditions that prevented meals and breaks at work.

4jen · Sep 3, 2008

I worked in the NICU at CMH a number of years ago. I agree that orientation and staff education was excellent, quality of patient care was good and the variety of patients was fascinating.
But the working conditions were unacceptable to me. The unit was poorly managed, staffing, scheduling and OT were horrible, the pay was not competitive with other facilities (It's a privilege to work in a Children's Hospital, you know!) and nurses were burning out right and left. During the year that I was there, there was a large exodus of staff from the unit, myself included.
In all fairness, that was a long time ago, and things may have changed. I certainly hope so. But I caution you not to be dazzled by the "Children's Hospital" label, and investigate the unit thoroughly. Ask to shadow staff nurses a few times and take note of their asignments. Do they seem reasonable? Do they change multiple times during a shift? I can't tell you the number of times I worked 12 hours without so much as a potty or drink break. Ask the staff about OT, on-call obligations, whether or not they get to take earned vacation time, whether they are forced to rotate shifts, what their overall satisfaction is with the unit, management and staffing.
I quit without having another job lined up because my health was being ruined by constant rotation of shifts, long stretches of 12 hour shifts without a day off and working conditions that prevented meals and breaks at work.

Thanks for you input. Did you transfer to another unit or go somewhere else? If you went somewhere else - are still doing peds?

Jolie, BSN · Sep 3, 2008

I quit and relaxed by the pool while hubby completed his education, which was only a few months.

We then left the area, and I continued to work in NICU/OB for several more years until I was able to stay home with my kids.

I've worked in 5 different hospitals, of all sizes, in big cities and rural areas. Each had its good and bad points, but I believe the constantly rotating shifts and poor staffing at CMH created a particularly bad work environment. I sincerely hope it's changed. The nursing staff there was talented and dedicated, and deserved better.

ICN RN · Sep 6, 2008

Things are definitely different now. I can say that our staffing is pretty darn good. There are times when things get tight, like when we have 3 kids on ECMO (2 nurses per kid), and the rest of the unit is full. I have never been forced to work overtime. We don't do on-call, unless you are on the ECMO team, then we take turns just in case. The nice thing is that when we have busy times, they offer $10/hour extra on top of overtime for extra shifts to encourage us to work extra. That way we can keep the assignments good when our numbers are up. But there is never a requirement. In fact, they had to limit the number of shifts you can work a week because so many people were more than happy to work extra for all of the overtime pay!!!

You do not have to rotate shifts, and I have never even heard of that. The only time you switch shifts is during orientation, when you do half on days and half on nights, to experience the differences on each shift. You accrue PTO and STO just like any other unit. I am happy with the management and feel like we are treated well. I have never had more than 3 babies (3 feeders), and the assignments are ALWAYS reasonable. I have heard from a lot of nurses who used to work at other places that came here that we have the "cushiest" assignments.

I am always able to go pee, pump (lots of nursing moms around here), and eat lunch. On occasion, I have gotten a limited lunch, or had to make myself leave the bedside to go pee, but that is rare, and only when my kiddo is very sick and trying to die.

I think that our NICU is a great place to work, especially if you love critical care and want the 'excitement' of taking care of extremely sick babies.

I don't doubt that things might have been not so good here before. But for the last 4 years I have been here, I have had great experiences. I look forward to coming to work.

Sorry to ramble, just wanted to stick up for my unit. I love it here.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

Jolie, BSN · Sep 6, 2008

I'm glad to hear it's gotten better!

4jen · Sep 6, 2008

Thanks so much for the insight. I just loved your enthusiasm and really it is people like you that make that hospital so special to families, students and other employess.

I am going to apply if they have any ICN NG openings. I noticed some NG positions posted on the website yesterday so hopefully ICN posts will be soon. :) I will also apply to some other units there, however I am really hoping on the ICN.

I just love CMH - my clinicals were awesome there and I so looked forward to each day I was there. Totally opposite of how I feel in the other clinicals. My youngest baby also spent lots of time there so I feel like I have seen both sides of what CMH is about and really would just be honored to work there. I am so excited. I do have back up plans if I can't get on there and I am realistic so no worries.

Thanks Again!

Jen