Considering RN job in PP Nursery

Vito Andolini · Nov 1, 2009

First, you will not loose skills but you might lose them.

Loose = not tight pronounced like Luce, as in Clare Booth

past tense = loosened; I loosened it; I made it looser.

Lose = you have it now but might find it gone; pronounced like a "z"

lose = you do not win at a game. That is losing the game. past tense = lost a loser = one who is considered not a winner

Sorry, I'm not picking on you, the confusion these words cause just bugs me. Please don't be mad.

As for changing jobs - it is hard to give up a non-stressful job. But maybe you could shadow in the nursery for a few hours and see what you like and don't like, see what they do. Lots of sticking little heels, for sure. Feeding, diapering, collecting urine probably, taking babes to moms for feeding, dying a thousand deaths in fear that you gave the wrong babe to a mom or something like that; weights, feedings of those whose moms can't feed them for whatever reason, lots of teaching, teaching, teaching; helping dads give the first bath, probably tons of paperwork; also, do you really want to work graveyard? Sounds like you prefer Peds work. Why did you leave it for Psych? What does ETA mean? I thought it meant Estimated Time of Arrival.

Best wishes to you, keep us informed.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Nov 1, 2009

ETA: edited to add

I do love peds. I left PICU because bad management and when the economy went down so did our census and hours, I was losing too many hours.

I work now in peds psych, which I do enjoy, just worry about clinical skill loss. We just get your basic kid stuff....bloody noses, asthma, broken bones, etc. I like my current job but don't see myself here forever.

LOL I already work nights, its what I prefer, I have no desire to work days : )

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

Learn newborns well--you don't want to miss anything if they transition badly and you don't catch that.

Otherwise, I'd go for it.

CEG · Nov 2, 2009

I would consider that nurseries are a thing of the past. There are still a few old school nurseries hanging around but most hospitals are getting rid of them as they remodel. So consider that you may end up working postpartum (mother/baby couplets) or labor and delivery if your nursery goes away also. That would be good for maintaining clinical skills but not good if it isn't what you want to do. Good luck.

HappyBunnyNurse · Nov 2, 2009

It is really going to depend on the set up this hospital has. Some hospitals are keeping their "old school" nurseries as a step down from NICU. So you have NICU pts and well babies just passing through. Are you hoping to eventually work NICU? If babies were your favorite part of PICU....

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Nov 5, 2009

Thanks for all the replies, definitely has given me a lot to think about.

I do not like the NICU (floated down there off and on for a year) and NICU babies and PICU babies are just so different.

I didn't realize nurseries were becoming a thing of the past and I have no desire for PP couplets.

Thanks again!

ilona22 · Nov 21, 2009

Hey!

You're from OK, right? I think I talked to you a couple of years ago when we were contemplating nursing school/pa school etc. I went to OU. Well I do postpartum now, I've been doing it since graduation. I love it, but as far as nursing skills...I haven't started an IV in over a year...it's a lot of psych, med pushing, and education. I too thought that couplet care was not an option for me, but now that I've floated to nursery for a while, I'd consider it. I'm about to move back to Tulsa, and actually considered psych. Do you have any idea what base pay for rn with 2-3 yr experience is in Oklahoma now? When I was there in 07' it was like $17.50...

ps I would have PMed you all this, but I guess you have to be registered now to PM people.