Any previous L&D nurses move to NICU?

[Sandwitch883RN]

I have been an L&D nurse for two years. I've had alot of issues with setteling into a job that i'm happy with. I've posted my issues on the OB/Gyn forum. In a nutshell I went into L&D right out of school. In the first facility the staff didn't support each other or get along at all. Very stressful high volume L&D. So I moved to another facility. The nurse to pt ratio was horrendous and I quickly left there. I'm now prn at a small rural hospital and start in a few weeks. The unit is very small and each RN rotates through L&D, PP and nursery. So this brings me to my reason for posting....anyone start in L&D and move to NICU. When I was graduating I strongly considered NICU or Newborn nursery. I had worked there as an aide and loved it. However I always wondered about the "other side of things" and for that reason chose L&D. I do reallly love women's health but often wonder if I would have been happier on "the baby side of things". Has anyone else started in L&D and decided to do NICU/Nursery?:typing

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

If high-volume, high-acuity is not your cup of tea, well-baby, and level III NICU probably aren't for you. Look into a Level II nursery in your area.

[BeccaznRN, RN]

I made the switch to NICU after a year in a half of L&D. Like you, I started in L&D as a new grad - after orientation and being on my own for a few months, I started to realize that it just wasn't for me. Once I was there for a year (and not feeling any better about being a L&D RN), I asked to train to float to our level III NICU with growers/feeders. Well, I fell in love with the job, the people, the docs, the babies, basically everything about the NICU. When I found myself praying before every shift that I would either get called off or floated to NICU, I told myself that I had to get out of L&D. So I put in for the transfer and got the job a few months later! Still in training, but I truly feel like this is where I belong. And you will be really surprised by how much L&D training helps you in the NICU!

Best of luck to you!

[Sandwitch883RN]

Thanks so much for the input! Encouragement and experience from others is always helpful and appreciated. I'm glad you found a place that you like. I am checking into nursery availability. We have a well baby/level II NICU at our local hospital. I still plan on doing L&D but as i've learned so far as a nurse, to keep every option open.

[Sandwitch883RN]

I meant to say I still plan on doing L&D PRN but to begin trying to make the move to the nursery! OOpps I don't type as fast as I think....lol