Has anyone worked in the NICU as an CNA?

Published

I start my volunteer soon in the NICU and wanted to know if anyone is or had been a CNA in the NICU unit before? Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

NICUs seldom employ anyone other than RNs for patient care. My NICU had techs, but they cleaned equipment, stocked and did other non-patient care duties. They almost never touched a patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I volunteer and cuddle babies in the NICU, there aren't any CNA's in that department for my hospital. My NICU is great, they let me do quite a lot for a volunteer (baths, check temps, change diapers, etc). Hopefully yours will be the same :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I go this week for volunteer training and then I'll have my first day as a nicu volunteer next weekend. í ½í¸ I've read they use patient care assistants in some NICUs. I'm not actually sure what qualifys someone to be a pca? I've heard PCA and CNA used interchangeabley but I'm really not sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you guys for your responses.!! I had started my first day of volunteer last night AND it was so wonderful! It motivated me to become a Nurse so much more. I volunteer every Friday during the late night shift and I love it so far. I mean what's not to like about babies right? Haha It just makes me feel good knowing I am helping a baby. The nurses are very sweet and welcomed me with opened arms. @Brandi2007. You are going to love being in the NICU. Are you in nursing school already? @itsthatgirljen. I would love to be able to help bathe, feed, and change diapers. That's so awesome that they allow you to do thst, hopefully I would be able too soon. :) Are you in nursing school? I know your loving it! @Meanmaryjean, DNP, RN. Thank you! Hopefully the hospital I volunteer at, allows cnas.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad you liked it!! I'm really looking forward to helping in the NICU(I have 2 preemies and as cliche as it sounds NICU is where my heart is..) and the whole reason I want to be a nurse. :) I am still taking prerequisites, are you in nursing school?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh no! I'm sorry. How are your babies doing? I hope well. Aww that's so great Brandi2007. :) Same here, I want to be in NICU. At first I wanted to do pediatrics, but I really wanted to work with the newborns. I've also thought about L&D too. Yeah I'm still taking my prerequisites. I'm hoping to get into nursing school either in January or June. I have to retake my hesi since I failed the first time. It sucks but it made me a lot more determine and I'm going to make sure I study a lot more before I retake it since I only have one more shot. Once I pass, it'll give me a greater chance at getting accepted. Are you almost finished with your prerequisites?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are fine( my daughter is 6 and my son is almost 2) I have 2 classes to take next semester and I plan to apply for fall 2018. There are a couple of schools I will be applying to, they all accept pax ..which I haven't even taken yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you guys for your responses.!! I had started my first day of volunteer last night AND it was so wonderful! It motivated me to become a Nurse so much more. I volunteer every Friday during the late night shift and I love it so far. I mean what's not to like about babies right? Haha It just makes me feel good knowing I am helping a baby. The nurses are very sweet and welcomed me with opened arms. @Brandi2007. You are going to love being in the NICU. Are you in nursing school already? @itsthatgirljen. I would love to be able to help bathe, feed, and change diapers. That's so awesome that they allow you to do thst, hopefully I would be able too soon. :) Are you in nursing school? I know your loving it! @Meanmaryjean, DNP, RN. Thank you! Hopefully the hospital I volunteer at, allows cnas.

I start in January!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
They are fine( my daughter is 6 and my son is almost 2) I have 2 classes to take next semester and I plan to apply for fall 2018. There are a couple of schools I will be applying to, they all accept pax ..which I haven't even taken yet.

Oh good! I'm glad they are well. What is pax?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I start in January!

That's super exciting! I wish you luck! í ½í¸Š

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's another type of pre entrance exam some nursing schools use.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion