I am a 'Cuddler' in the NICU ...anyone else?

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Hi! I am a student in Florida waiting to hear about my acceptance to a nursing program. I Volunteer at a large teaching hospital in the NICU as a cuddler. My job description is to rock, cuddle and feed the babies that are temperature stable. I LOVE IT! I was wondering does anyone else know of hospitals that do this. I must say I feel pretty lucky that my hospital does this. Also it will look pretty good at my nursing interview...just an idea!:rolleyes:

Specializes in NICU.

We have cuddlers too. They're so appreciated because though we try to comfort the grumpy babies, we don't always have to to do so and sometimes have to just leave a baby to cry if we all have our hands busy. A lot of times the criers just want to be held!

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blaine--i am in gainesville also (small world huh?) and i know that (as i am sure you probably do too) shands just opened the new nicu unit not too long ago. you could always call and see if they take "cuddlers". ;)

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blaine--i am in gainesville also (small world huh?) and i know that (as i am sure you probably do too) shands just opened the new nicu unit not too long ago. you could always call and see if they take "cuddlers". ;)

are you in nursing school at uf?

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Are you in Nursing school at UF?

Nahhhh, I wish... :chuckle I am just starting my prereq's at S.F.C.C. on March 9th (spring B)... Why? Are you in school here?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I remember holding and feeding a premie in my NICU clinical. The nurses took a picture of me and the baby and I still have it framed in my bedroom by the nursing books.

That sounds like such a wonderful volunteering job. What could be better than holding a precious little baby in your arms and watching it sleep.

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Nahhhh, I wish... :chuckle I am just starting my prereq's at S.F.C.C. on March 9th (spring B)... Why? Are you in school here?

I am at UF working on my BS in Psychology. I will be done at the end of the summer. YAY! Upon graduation I either want to go to nursing school or pharmacy school. What are your plans?

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congrats on the graduation coming up!!! as for me, i am going to do my best to get into the rn program at sfcc and from there i am not sure. i may, once i am working, try to get my bsn from u of phoenix online but i have no idea. 2008 seems so far away that my life may be so crazy by then, i guess i will wait and see. good luck in whatever path you chose! :)

i am at uf working on my bs in psychology. i will be done at the end of the summer. yay! upon graduation i either want to go to nursing school or pharmacy school. what are your plans?
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i just emailed the llady in charge of volunteering at Shands Jax.Currently Im at nemours but I want more patient interaction prefrerably with babies.Hopefully I'll get into UF or FSU nursing programs so this willl look really good.Anways the lady said there is a long waiting list to volunteer there.What exactly do you do?Do you ever have problems with the parents?I heard there have been several rapes in the garage,have you had any problems with crime over there??

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Specializes in dementia/alzehimers,rehab,hospice.

im definately a cuddler. its SO hard to not get attached to those babies. i volunteered last year in the mbu and could rock the healthy babies. not only that but i was able to see a live birth even hold the ladies legs. i cant wait until i finish nursing school so i can start applying for nicu jobs!

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
A lot of times the criers just want to be held!

I'm an older guy, brand new RN with a new job in the NICU. My co-workers think it's funny that I, like you, think that sometimes, all the baby needs is a little cuddling and rocking. Lying there for hours on end can't be fun, even for a baby.

They laugh at me for doing it, but the babies that I CAN cuddle, I WILL cuddle. It doesn't take that much time, and I truly believe it does a world of good for the babies. My warm hands are also invaluable tools when dealing with a crier. LOL:up:

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Specializes in NICU.

We have a wonderful, dedicated group of volunteers that come and cuddle our babies. Each of them volunteer for whatever hours they wish; usually a couple of hours 1-2 times/week. We are an extremely busy Level III NICU, with over 80 beds. I believe at the moment we have approximately 10 "cuddlers" that come at different times and days of the week. As an RN I would LOVE to have the time to rock and cuddle a cranky baby; the fact is I just do not have time to do it. With all the "tasks" we have to do, cuddling a baby for an hour or so is a luxury.

I have sent notes to our Social Workers asking for cuddlers for a particular baby; usually someone that's been in the NICU for several months, with few or no family visits due to a variety of factors. The cuddlers are all volunteers and aren't paid. I love our cuddlers!

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Specializes in NICU.

St. Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ also takes cuddler volunteers, I just had a wonderful woman in my new orientation!

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