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.
Lately, I have been thinking about how to word why I want to work there but I just can't seem to pin it down to a couple sentences.
I've heard this several times, both from newbies and from experienced, successful neo nurses. Sometimes people's images of the NICU differ from reality. On your interviews though, you should get at least a walk-through of the unit.
Check out some of the sticky threads in this forum for some of the reasons that people cite for enjoying the NICU.
I don't have any personal experience with NICU either, but I've always, always wanted to work with babies. I'm a recent graduate who is waiting(hoping, praying, looking) for that ever elusive NICU job. I don't really know why I'm drawn to NICU, but I am :)
well, i was a post-partum rn, got pregnant with my triplets (huge surprise with no fertility), ended up on complete hospital bedrest at 16weeks for 12 weeks. made it to 28.5 weeks and delivered my bbg. they weighed 2-6, 2-9, and 1-15. spent 12, 16, 12 weeks in the nicu and ran the gamut of issues including all 3 having to be transferred to the children's hospital for emergency surgery in the same day. was told my 2nd ds wouldn't make it. it was the most stressful time of my life. well, my dh and i are truly blessed as today we are the parents of three, fantastic 8 year olds! 2 are completely healthy, but our middle ds does have a myriad of health issues (pan hypo pit, severe gerd with 2 fundos and gastric volvulus and g-tube, add, anxiety, mild cp, learning disabilities, pvl, etc), but he is amazing and in a regular classroom at school, has tons of friends, and is on grade level. they are all my inspiration every day and have taught me more about faith, acceptance, and living each day as it comes joyfully and to the fullest in 8 years than i learned in the previous 30.
well, i owe more than i can ever repay to the nicu. so a week from monday, i return to work in the same nicu where my kiddos were born. i cannot wait to be there. i feel that it is a calling. i know it won't be easy, but it'll be worth every second. once again, i'll be truly blessed.
i wrote this about why i love the nicu. and i don't think it matters if you have personal experience or not. if you truly love your job and the nicu, then it will shine through and you will be a blessing to those families.
i love that the nicu enabled me to bring my preemie triplets (one micro) home when i was told it would not happen.
i love that the nicu has allowed me to have 8 years of magic, fun, excitement, tears, and laughter.
i love that the nicu has given me a chance for 3 times the hugs and kisses every day.
i love that the nicu fulfilled my dream to be a mom.
i love that the nicu helped my children to come home so we could be a family.
i love that the nicu was filled with doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff who truly cared for my children, me, and my dh.
i love that the nicu has given me the chance to love more than i knew possible, to be loved more than i deserve, and to have more joy than i ever imagined.
i love that in less than 2 weeks i get to go back to the nicu as an rn and offer other families the same chances.
I am going to be a nurse also and I like the NICU because my younger brother spent two months there as a baby and that's what made me fall in love with nursing!!
Nursing is my second career. During the time I was taking the last two prerequisites, I became pregnant unexpectedly. I was almost done with my last prereqs when I had my child at 26 weeks. He was born 1 lb. 12 oz. He spent about 3 months in the NICU. He had lung problems, rop, jaundice but no bleeds nor difficulty feeding. When I was accepted in Nursing school, I knew that my experience as a NICU mom has made me passionate about starting my career in NICU. I will be graduating in December. I started to apply for jobs sometime in August and I'm happy to say that I will become a NICU nurse in early 2009!
Though I am not a nurse yet, I feel a strong draw towards the NICU. My mother is a nurse, and I never wanted to be one growing up. I never thought about it until I became pregnant. My daughter was not breathing when she was born and spent a week in the NICU. The nurses there truly were angels, and 5 1/2 years later I still think about them, and that place. I remember the micro premie that the mom couldn't even hold....I remember one of the babies coding and we had to leave....all those sad and happy memories are overwhelming, and I think it would be an amazing place to work. Many people tell me I am crazy, and maybe once I start nursing school I will change my mind. But for right now, it is the reason I am going to nursing school, it is what hit me in the head saying "this is what you are meant to do". And even if I don't become a NICU nurse, I will owe my nursing career to that week spent in the NICU with my daughter.
EricJRN, MSN, RN
1 Article; 6,683 Posts
I've heard this several times, both from newbies and from experienced, successful neo nurses. Sometimes people's images of the NICU differ from reality. On your interviews though, you should get at least a walk-through of the unit.
Check out some of the sticky threads in this forum for some of the reasons that people cite for enjoying the NICU.