CNA's in a NICU setting

HisKids37 · Dec 9, 2016

We don't have CNAs or LVNs in our NICU. Good luck!

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Dec 9, 2016

Our PCAs (CNA) restock blankets and isolation gowns, help set up for admissions, find us equipment (IV pumps, med pumps, bili lights, etc). They are not involved in patient care or assessments. We are a large NICU (101 beds and 40 RNs per shift) with only a few PCAs, so they would be unable to spend time feeding or holding NAS babies. Other smaller NICUs may utilize them for feeding.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 9, 2016

Our CNAs stocked, ran labs, got blood, got equipment, cleaned incubators, and set them up for a new admit (followed by Respiratory and the admit nurse), try to keep the unit cleaned up. They make it infinitely easier for the nurses and RTs to do their jobs. They don't do direct pt care. If necessary, they help the ward clerks answer phones.

They make rounds in the morning to sort of take roll--what pt is where, where they need to stock, check to see if there are labs to go. And what's left over from the previous shift to be cleaned. They keep track of what incubators need to be changed out so the babies have a clean bed (some are there for months) with clean filters, etc.

This may not be what you're looking for, and, w/o a doubt, different units use CNAs for different tasks. But babies in a NICU are very sick, and need an RN to care for them. Feeding a premie is not the same as feeding a newborn.

Best wishes in your endeavours.

megatronRN · Dec 9, 2016

Many NICUs do not use CNAs anymore. I'd imagine you will be restocking, answering phones, gathering supplies, setting up equipment, etc. You'll be functioning more as HUC/equipment aid. A wonderful opportunity and great experience if you have any interest working in the NICU after graduation. Any exposure to the NICU is good experience.

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 9, 2016

I don't work in the NICU but it seems from the other posters that the positions don't involve much direct patient care experience. I would say that if you're interested in working in the NICU in the future then I would jump on this position ASAP. The worst case scenario is that you don't care for the job and you do it for a few months and move on when you graduate nursing school. The best case scenario is that you can use this as an audition to show how you are as an employee and convince them that they need to hire you as a NICU RN upon graduation. How do you do that? You show up every shift eager and ready to learn. You help out with any task that you can (that is within your scope of course) and maybe some of the nurses will try to teach you because you are a nursing student. If all goes well then you may be asked to apply for an RN position after graduation and if one isn't available then you may be referred to apply to the labor and delivery, post-partum or newborn nursery units (if the hospital has those units) and you can obtain valuable experience in those settings. Best of luck to the OP and congrats on this opportunity (it isn't every day that this sort of thing happens).

!Chris :specs:

Knights Nurse · Dec 10, 2016

I work in an 84 bed Level IV NICU and our CNA's are involved in a lot. They help stock, set up for admissions, cleaned incubators, and helped out with the front desk area. They also did help with feeding some of our feeder growers who were close to discharge and helped hold NAS babies.

jessicaleetilt · Dec 16, 2016

It depends on the hospital and the unit. I am a CNA in the NICU at my hospital, and I do things such as stock, move babies in the unit, help with admits, discharges, little tasks here and there. I am able to do patient care. I can feed babies, change diapers, take temps and blood pressures, pretty much the basic cares for the baby. This is if the nurse is busy with another baby or is on lunch, etc. Sometimes they will let me do it just because :) it's a great place to work and I can't wait to be a nurse here.

BrandNewBabyNurse · Dec 16, 2016

The NICU I work in is quite large at about 92 beds, and we have about 45 RNs and 2/3 CNAs per shift. Our CNAs are only utilized in our step-down unit, and assist with diaper changing, bottle feeds, and general unit tasks like those mentioned in the posts above. They are a huge asset to us when the transition unit is full of hungry babies and the RNs can't possibly feed/change 3 at once.

nicubarbara · Dec 27, 2016

I work in the NICU and our PCA's do basic patient care--vitals, diaper changes, feedings, holding NAS babies, as well as hearing screens, assisting with circumcisions, setting up for new admissions, cleaning and moving equipment after discharges, etc.