Combined Level II & III NICU or Level III only???

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

Hi there, I need to make a choice of where to do practicum this winter...a level II & III NICU or level III only NICU. I have shadowed at both but I keep going back and forth on my decision.

Level II & III: 30 beds, 10 min. bus ride from home, connected to L&D unit/OR (able to attend high-risk labor & c/s), hire new grads, 8hr shifts (but I also heard they mandate quite abit though)

Level III: 24 beds, 40 min bus ride, Larger teaching unit in a children's hospital (once well enough, they're transported back to woman's hospital into IMCN..a few kms away), Do not attend deliveries but there is a transport team there who work medi-flight (of course as a student I wouldn't do that...I think), also hire new grads, 12 hour shifts -6 weeks on 1 off deal.

I have heard both sides...as a student, start with level 2 and work up and I also had a new grad in the level 3 recommend giving it my all and trying there.

I must also let you know that nursing is a second career. I have emergency response training, deal with stress and stressful ppl well, yadda yadda...

appreciate your input!

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Specializes in NICU/Subacute/MDS.

In my opinion you should go to a level III for practicum. You will have greater experiences that will not be available in the level II, but they most certainly will not push you past your abilities. Plus, you will get a better idea of life as a NICU RN to decide if that is what you want to do when you graduate and it will look great on your resume. I am a new Grad in a level III NICU and love it! Of course, the level II/III is closer to you, so if you feel that they receive enough level III babies to give you the learning opportunities you need, then go for it!

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Specializes in NICU.

Wow! How lucky to have the choice between two units. I'm sure whichever one you pick will give you great experience. Personally, I'm partial to a unit where you can attend deliveries. You never know what kind of amazing experiences you'll get there.

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.
In my opinion you should go to a level III for practicum. You will have greater experiences that will not be available in the level II, but they most certainly will not push you past your abilities. Plus, you will get a better idea of life as a NICU RN to decide if that is what you want to do when you graduate and it will look great on your resume. I am a new Grad in a level III NICU and love it! Of course, the level II/III is closer to you, so if you feel that they receive enough level III babies to give you the learning opportunities you need, then go for it!

Thanks for your input!! The level II/III has technically 16/30 beds dedicated to NICU babes, however when I was there I didn't see to many critical cases. I was paired up with a new grad nurse to shadow and she was limited to the level 2 side and was clear in telling me how unhappy she was with this. They seemed to be short staffed and sounded like this was not a new thing. My nurse had 4:1 ratio but even one nurse on the more acute side was complaining about having 3:1. Some red flags. The level 3 was 1:1 mostly (I think 2 nurses out of 10 had 2:1) and I have since learned that the province's neonatal transport team works out of there and I may get to go on a flight during my practicum and you also get to spend a day at the women's hospital shadowing the resus nurse who attends the births. So, though I was initially more intimidated in trying the level 3, I think I should just get over that for the advantage of those awesome learning opportunities!!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I used to work in combo II/III unit and we didn't get tooooo many sick ones in comparision to all the feeder growers. I didn't much care for it but it was a great place to learn time mgmt!

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

Well...I finally made a decision and submitted my picks. Phew. I ended up choosing the level III NICU as my 1st pick, the combined unit as my 2nd and the PICU as my 3rd (we have to give three).

Though the commute will not be ideal and I will have to adjust to 12's, I went with the level 3 since that hospital also provides the critical care nursing educational program, so I figure getting to know the managers and educators there couldn't hurt.

Thanks again for your feedback....so glad this decision is over with (been a year in the making). Now, I just have to wait and see if I can get it...:uhoh3:

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