calling all NICU nurses.....

I<3NICU · Nov 18, 2008

My hospital has a lot of NICU openings and after working med-surg for a few months and not really liking it, I am thinking of switching to NICU. Can you tell me a little about your job?
What do you generally do for your shift?
What do you like about it?
Don't like?
Is it usually stressful?
What's your patient-nurse ratio like?
Is there always a doctor available in the NICU for emergency situations?
Does it require special certification?

Hello uscstu4lfe,

I'm a new grad and have been looking for a job since June. I came across your thread and saw that you said your hospital has a lot of NICU openings. I'm wondering if you can tell me which hospital is it? I did my practicum in a NICU setting and I absolutely love it. It was a level II and III NICU with a birthing center. I got to attend deliveries and took care of preemies that were intubated and on CPAP. Patient-nurse ratio in level III was 2-3 to 1.

i

prmenrs, RN · Nov 18, 2008

I'm moving this thread to the NICU forum!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

My hospital has a lot of NICU openings and after working med-surg for a few months and not really liking it, I am thinking of switching to NICU. Can you tell me a little about your job?

What do you generally do for your shift?

Assess and feed babies. I do procedures and lab draws on babies. I bathe babies and change linen, I suction babies and assist with procedures. I give meds and blood products. I do a lot of teaching with parents, I hold fussy babies, I change IV tubing.

What do you like about it?

I like that I have some autonomy, I like my patients. I like that the poop and secretions are small. I like being able to see little changes that lead to big changes. I like baby shampoo head smell, I love babies, I like that I am proud of what I do.

Don't like?

Parents who know nothing who act like they know everything and interfere with you doing your job correctly, parents who think it is about them, not their baby. I don't like when a baby comes in with a devastating syndrome or is not compatible with life....when you see that mom holding her baby and know that that is all she gets with her child, makes me cry every time.

Is it usually stressful?

It is stressful at times. I get stressed when my assignment is too big, I'm always afraid that I am going to forget something. I also get stressed when one of my patients have issues. I get stressed when I am running behind.

What's your patient-nurse ratio like?

kids on the big oscillator and drips are 1:1

Vented kids and kids on CPAP or HFNC are 2:1, but we usually get 2 of these and a feeder

feeders are 3:1, but we usually get 4:1

Is there always a doctor available in the NICU for emergency situations?

Every unit varies, but we always have an NNP or doctor available.

Does it require special certification?

nope.

I suggest you look into the history of this unit, do they always have a lot of openings? It may be a toxic unit.

prmenrs, RN · Nov 20, 2008

Check out the threads mentioned in this "stickie"

https://allnurses.com/forums/f33/day-life-nicu-nurse-309385.html

Preemienurse23 · Nov 22, 2008

kids on the big oscillator and drips are 1:1
Vented kids and kids on CPAP or HFNC are 2:1, but we usually get 2 of these and a feeder
feeders are 3:1, but we usually get 4:1

WOW a HFNC a 2:1?!?!? I have had 3 kids on 2-5LPM before. I had a kid on the Jet ventilator, with 2 other babies one with a HFNC and one who had his dc'd, all 3 with TPN, and PICC/UVCs and all 3 under 2 weeks old. My oldest was 8 days. Some times its nice to daydream about safer, managable assignments!!! But I do love my job, and that makes it worth it.