DO you have perinatal techs in your nursery...

All RN staff in NICU

RN/LPN in "normal" nursery. Mostly rooming in,so very few babies in the nursery now. Just admitted for post delivery assessment and then to Mum's room.

Never had unregulated staff in the nursery.

would you advise a nursing student to try to find employment as one? I let my NA cert expire, but I can do a refresher course w/in the month in 2 weeks, and I've seen a few postings for these at a nearby hospital. Is this something that would help for later NICU work? I think I read in earlier posts that 'Special Care Nursery' the same as level 2, Is this true? Thanks!!

Longtime lurker and soon to be full time RN student :)

All RN staff in all 3 NICU's I have worked in. They wont even allow students to do a rotation where I work currently.

They do a variety of things, restocking drawers, blanket warmers, etc.

They also are allowed to help out in our ACN with feeding, vital signs and basic care. I'm currently in a NICU residency program and one of the other new nurses has worked in the NICU for two years as a tech.....she definitely had a leg up when it came to the unit goings on!

Go for it!

Jamie

In my unit now we don't but in my last unit (level 3) we had NA's. They would do vital signs and feedings on our bigger stable kiddos as long as they weren't on O2 or IV's.

In my unit now we don't but in my last unit (level 3) we had NA's. They would do vital signs and feedings on our bigger stable kiddos as long as they weren't on O2 or IV's.

Thank you all so much for the input!!! I'd love anything that would help in the future, give me a leg up, etc! I think I'll try it and see what happens! :)

In my unit now we don't but in my last unit (level 3) we had NA's. They would do vital signs and feedings on our bigger stable kiddos as long as they weren't on O2 or IV's.

WOW, in all the units I worked in, they wont even allow an LPN to go near a baby.....:uhoh21: , nevermind a NA

WOW, in all the units I worked in, they wont even allow an LPN to go near a baby.....:uhoh21: , nevermind a NA

In my unit now we actually have an LPN. She takes care of stable kids, no oxygen or anything. Bt NG feeds, ostomies, IV's, etc she does. She has been employed there for over 25 years and she is great. I would have never known she was an LPN. They don't currently hire LPN's into the NICU but since she has been there for so long, they won't get rid of her. And this is in a unit where they only started hiring new grads within the last year, they don't use travelers at all, and a bachelor's degree is required!

In my unit now we actually have an LPN. She takes care of stable kids, no oxygen or anything. Bt NG feeds, ostomies, IV's, etc she does. She has been employed there for over 25 years and she is great. I would have never known she was an LPN. They don't currently hire LPN's into the NICU but since she has been there for so long, they won't get rid of her. And this is in a unit where they only started hiring new grads within the last year, they don't use travelers at all, and a bachelor's degree is required!

Does a bachelor's degree make one a better NICU nurse?

We used to have LPN's years ago, but they fazed them out. Ours could do everything but meds and they were awesome.

Let's not get into the BSN thing, it has been hashed over and over. Personally, the degree doesn't make a difference as long as you are able to learrn and do the job :)

We used to have LPN's years ago, but they fazed them out. Ours could do everything but meds and they were awesome.

Let's not get into the BSN thing, it has been hashed over and over. Personally, the degree doesn't make a difference as long as you are able to learrn and do the job :)

Hi BittyBabyGrower--Sorry--didn't meant to rehash an old subject, and I'm sure that BabyGrower513 also was not implying anything by sharing her unit's policy--it's just that I love what I do, and I am passionate about my job, and I feel that 2 more years of school would not give me the wealth of experience I have gained over 13 years in the NICU, and I would be offended if I applied for a position, and was told that because I don't have a bachelors degree I am not experienced enough to work in a NICU. Everything I know about NICU nursing, I have learned over the years--from LPN's, RN's (both AD and BSN) and yes--sometimes even CNA's who have worked in NICU for longer than I have--you are so right when you say the degree doesn't matter--it's a love and a passion for the job, and being open to learning from other's years of experience and wealth of knowledge. Cindy

Does a bachelor's degree make one a better NICU nurse?

Just stating my hospital's policy, doesn't mean I agree with it.

Just stating my hospital's policy, doesn't mean I agree with it.

hi BabyNurse513--I realize that, and I apologize if I seemed to imply that--I really didn't mean to. Just wanted to let you know. It's a policy that I definitely don't agree with. I've thought about going back to scholl for my bachelor's degree--but the .80 more an hour that I would make doesn't justify me spending the money to go, and it wouldn't teach what experience has taught me. However--I give alot of credit to all of those who do have their 4 year degrees--it's alot of extra hard work. When I went to school, I was a single mom with two babies, and the thought at that time of two extra years in school was more than I could do at the time, and now, as I said--the end doesn't justify the means. I'm just grateful that their are hospitals who value their AD nurses, so that I can continue to do what I love. If my hospital were to now initiate a policy that we all had to have BSN's, then I would go back to school in order to stay in the job I love. I couldn't imagine doing any other kind of nursing. Just wanted you to know that I didn't mean any thing towards you for stating your hospital's policy... :)