Curious as to how many NICU nurses have previous personal experience in the NICU

sddlnscp · Jun 21, 2005

I am currently taking prerequisites for entrance into a nursing program and feel quite certain I want to work in the NICU. I'm curious how many of you had babies or knew someone closely who had a baby in the NICU and if that influenced your decision to work in the NICU. My son Aaron was born at 24 weeks in March 2004 but sadly only lived 3 days. He died from complications due to a Grade IV IVH. I became pregnant quickly (and unexpectedly-I was on the pill!) and gave birth to my son Cameron in February 2005 at 28 weeks after over a month in the hospital and exhaustive efforts to delay his birth. He came home on oxygen after 9 weeks in the NICU.
I honestly can't imagine working in any other area, although I'm certainly aware that may change.
Tiffany

I, like you am a pre-nursing student and I also feel an overwhelming draw to the NICU. I have two children who were both happy & healthy babies and have never had any personal experience in the NICU, but it is really where I want to be. Like you, who knows if I will change my mind once I actually get into the nursing program and start clinicals, but I do know that the NICU is what is pulling me towards nursing (revisiting a dream I've had since childhood actually) and where I foresee myself ending up - I highly doubt I will change my mind, but 'ya never know. I am curious about this one too, however my answer to this is no, I haven't had any previous experience that has drawn my interest to NICU, but I do feel very passionately about it just the same.

To add to it, do those of you that have had personal experience with the NICU feel that those of us without it would make less-qualified nurses or feel begrudgingly towards us? I am just curious because I would certainly hate to step on any toes or upset anybody in my quest to attain my dream. :)

NoCrumping · Jun 21, 2005

I have absolutely No experience with a NICU. It was, however, the single reason why I went to nursing school, and to this day, I cant figure out what it was initially that drew me to this field........ I cant remember when, or why.. or how, all I know is that I went and never looked back!!!! Funny, I never even KNEW anybody who worked in a NICU.....but there will never be another area I will work in as a RN...

sparkyRN · Jun 21, 2005

I have absolutely No experience with a NICU. It was, however, the single reason why I went to nursing school, and to this day, I cant figure out what it was initially that drew me to this field........ I cant remember when, or why.. or how, all I know is that I went and never looked back!!!! Funny, I never even KNEW anybody who worked in a NICU.....but there will never be another area I will work in as a RN...

My story is somewhat similar. The end of my junior year in college, one of my classmates told me the hospital across the street was hiring students to work. I didn't even know she was taking me to the NICU to apply until we showed up. I only vaguely knew the unit was there. We weren't allowed in during our mat/child rotations at that hospital. We both got jobs. She decided to go home that summer; I stayed. I got to do so many nursing jobs that they wouldn't dream of letting SNs do today. For the first time things just clicked for me and I knew it was where I would be happiest. I never tried anything else and I still enjoy going to work 20 years later!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jun 21, 2005

To add to it, do those of you that have had personal experience with the NICU feel that those of us without it would make less-qualified nurses or feel begrudgingly towards us? I am just curious because I would certainly hate to step on any toes or upset anybody in my quest to attain my dream.

The vast majority of NICU nurses do not have personal experience with the NICU. It in no way makes them less qualified. If only nurses who had personal experience were deemed fit to work in NICU, there would not be enough to take care of all the babies who need us and who would that benefit?

sddlnscp · Jun 21, 2005

The vast majority of NICU nurses do not have personal experience with the NICU. It in no way makes them less qualified. If only nurses who had personal experience were deemed fit to work in NICU, there would not be enough to take care of all the babies who need us and who would that benefit?

Thank you so much - I feel so much better now. This question had been nagging at the back of my mind, but I felt awkward about asking it - this thread seemed to be an ok place to do so though. Now I can really smile for the rest of the day. :)

Finallyat40 · Jun 21, 2005

I'm a late in life (at 40) nursing graduate. I never even considered working in any other area of the hospital. All the way through nursing school, I just kept telling myself that this was a means to an end....and it was. I graduated in December of 2004, completed a 17 week intensive NICU residency program and have been working independently ever since. I love the NICU, and hope that continues, but when and if the day comes that I dislike it, I hope that I have the guts to resign and move on! It has been very interesting during my time here to listen to the nurses contemplate situations of "What would I do? What should be done? At what point do we stop?, etc." I have, at times, interjected a bit of "realism" into their situations and tried to explain what a parent might be thinking. Some are open to the thoughts others are not, but either way.....I'm here for the babies! I do think that having 'been there, done that', one looks at situations a bit differently and it allows us to have empathy for their plight and understanding of the pain that comes between the rock and the hard place.

Jamie

fmrnicumom · Jun 21, 2005

I, like you am a pre-nursing student and I also feel an overwhelming draw to the NICU. I have two children who were both happy & healthy babies and have never had any personal experience in the NICU, but it is really where I want to be. Like you, who knows if I will change my mind once I actually get into the nursing program and start clinicals, but I do know that the NICU is what is pulling me towards nursing (revisiting a dream I've had since childhood actually) and where I foresee myself ending up - I highly doubt I will change my mind, but 'ya never know. I am curious about this one too, however my answer to this is no, I haven't had any previous experience that has drawn my interest to NICU, but I do feel very passionately about it just the same.
To add to it, do those of you that have had personal experience with the NICU feel that those of us without it would make less-qualified nurses or feel begrudgingly towards us? I am just curious because I would certainly hate to step on any toes or upset anybody in my quest to attain my dream. :)

Well, as a former NICU mom, I know few of the nurses in the unit my sons were in had personal NICU experience. The two who had Cameron the most definitely did not, but both were fantastic nurses.

I feel a draw, too. There are many reasons I can identify for the pull, but also many I can't quite put my finger on. I know many people think I'm insane for even considering the NICU after losing Aaron, but so many have gone through so much worse and I really believe the NICU is where I'm meant to be.

Thank you for all the responses! I'd love to hear more if anyone else cares to answer! :)

Tiffany

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2005

Thank you so much - I feel so much better now. This question had been nagging at the back of my mind, but I felt awkward about asking it - this thread seemed to be an ok place to do so though. Now I can really smile for the rest of the day. :)

I agree with the others - it's okay to go into NICU without having a personal experience in that kind of a unit. Most nurses who go into NICU just feel a draw towards it. Heck, I decided to go into the field when I was about 16 years old, after reading an excerpt of the book "Born Too Soon" in one of my grandmother's Reader's Digest magazines!!! It was like being hit with an anvil - I knew in my gut I had found my passion. I've been working in the NICU for 7 years now and have never once doubted my instincts.

If you go into a unit with the true desire to work with critically ill babies and their families...you'll be welcomed with open arms. Statistically speaking, most nurses wouldn't touch the NICU with a ten-foot pole! So we embrace those with an interest in the NICU.

Good luck in school!

sddlnscp · Jun 21, 2005

Wow - thanks again everybody! The post that referenced a feeling like "being hit with an anvil" (thanks Gompers!) gave me chills because that is EXACTLY how I felt once I learned about the NICU. I don't know how to explain my pull towards it, I just know that it is where I am supposed to be and where I will one day end up. Thanks for all the postivie notes, I feel so much better and much more welcomed - I can't wait!!! :) Thanks for starting this thread - this is not a question I would have otherwise asked or have had answered.

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 23, 2005

My children were both early and that and my preterm labor/bedrest experience is what drew me to the NICU. I'm on track to become an NNP eventually, and I know this is what I want to do with my life.

HappyRealist · Jun 26, 2005

I had preterm labor with all three of my kids. Only my third came early at 28 weeks. She spent 7 weeks in the NICU and is now a tall, smart, precious 8 year-old.

I can't see myself anywhere else but the NICU at this point. We'll see what happens when I go through clinicals. I'll be shocked if I change my mind.