OK, I just wanted to say that. I am in nursing school now and I want to do NICU when I get out. Currently, we are in our L and D rotation and as part of that we do ONE day in clinicals in the NBN. There is NO NICU exposure in our program. We can't even do NICU as our senior practicum. So, the other day, I'm supposed to be in the NBN. Well, the hospital where I'm rotating only takes new C-section kids to the NBN. OB "catches" their own and they room in on Mother Baby.
So, we get there (3 of us) and there are NO babies. None. My classmates find chairs and sit down to chat and kill time when an idea seizes me. I tell the NBN nurse that I want to do NICU when I'm done and since there are no kids in NBN, could I spend the day in the NICU. Sure she says. In fact, the NICU nurses were thrilled because someone was showing interest and not just completing an assignment.
So, I spent the day in the NICU and it was hands-down the BEST clinical day of nursing school. I actually skipped my lunch break so I could be in the unit longer! My classmates in NBN eventually got some kids and even got to give some shots. I got to help admit 31 week twins (1190g and 1620g), hold a 800g kid for an IV start, assess several other preemies and got to see a ton. If I wasn't sure that I wanted to do NICU before, I am now!
This was a level II unit, but they take kids 28 weeks and up as long as they don't need ECMO or heart surgery. They've got neos in house 24/7 and a deal with the Children's hospital down the road to see kids who need subspecialist consults but don't need the drive across town.
I was actually kind of surprised at the level of acuity for a community hospital!
Just wanted to share my excitement. Too bad that rotation is over and next it's back to med-surg and boring old adults!
I *thought* that I wanted to do NICU nursing from the start - it's why I went to nursing school. But there was always some doubt in my mind that it would be nothing like I expected. Then in my junior year of nursing school I got to do an observation day in the NICU at a teaching hospital. Oh my gosh!!! It was, like you said, the best clinical day EVER!!! It just felt like *home* as corny as that sounds. I was just like, "Yep, this is it. My gut was right!"
Went on to work as a nursing assistant in a NICU my senior year, then did my senior role transition in another NICU, and a few months later I started in the unit where I've been now for nearly ten years. Never looked back. It is so wonderful when you find your niche, isn't it? It just hits you like a ton of bricks!
Yep! I've got an interview next week for a summer extenship in the NICU. Our school won't let you do senior preceptorship there, so this is as close as I'll get until after graduation.
I *thought* that I wanted to do NICU nursing from the start - it's why I went to nursing school. But there was always some doubt in my mind that it would be nothing like I expected. Then in my junior year of nursing school I got to do an observation day in the NICU at a teaching hospital. Oh my gosh!!! It was, like you said, the best clinical day EVER!!! It just felt like *home* as corny as that sounds. I was just like, "Yep, this is it. My gut was right!"
Went on to work as a nursing assistant in a NICU my senior year, then did my senior role transition in another NICU, and a few months later I started in the unit where I've been now for nearly ten years. Never looked back. It is so wonderful when you find your niche, isn't it? It just hits you like a ton of bricks!
Hey Gompers, I totally agree with this. I started a new job in the NICU last week as a unit secretary and as soon as I stepped through those doors, I knew I was home. I :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat it! Now if I can play my cards right, by the time I graduate we'll be closer to expanding from 20 or so beds to about 35, meaning they will need more nurses...I aim to be one, and then I'll be like mad!
NeuroNP
352 Posts
Yep! I've got an interview next week for a summer extenship in the NICU. Our school won't let you do senior preceptorship there, so this is as close as I'll get until after graduation.