If you start in NICU, are you stuck?

minniemiteRN · Dec 20, 2005

I don't know about all units but I was hired into my unit after working med surg. I also know of units hiring GN's and training them. I've been working in a level III NICU for 3 yrs and have had no lack of job opportunities. I thought at one time I was interested in hospice was offered a job as a case manager for pediatric cases...I didn't take the job but it was an option.

Nursing school is generally geared towards med surg nursing so school is sometimes considered when talking about adult experience.

I don't think you have to be worried about being stuck!

Good Luck!

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Dec 21, 2005

You still keep a lot of transferable skills while working in NICU, like IV's, labs, vents, art lines, blood products, etc..... You would, however probably need to brush up on adult conditions, like diabetes, cardiac conditions, since babies usually have a separate set of problems. So I would say that most skills would transfer, but "book" knowledge would need to be brushed up on......

STeveRN21

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 21, 2005

I taught NICU orientation for many years ...having started out in a NICU as a new grad. So this has been major issue in my career both for myself and for the people I have taught.

Switching specialties is often difficult -- in either direction. The ease of the transition seems to depend more on the individual characteristics of the nurse than the "direction" of the transition. Also, I think that the variety of experiences you had as a student plays a role. Some people are comfortable working with a variety of patient types/ages and can transition easily from one type to another, even if it has been several years since working with that type. Other people respond to new environments/patient types with more hesitance and are not comfortable transitioning regardless of how long it has been.

Because it could be problematic either way ... I have always advised people to "go where their heart is" ... because ... if you don't and have trouble transitioning later, you will always regret not pursuing your first choice in the first place. Life is too short to be unhappy in a job for very long.

Good luck,

llg

fergus51 · Dec 22, 2005

I've received several job offers for adult ICU thanks to my NICU experience (not that I would EVER do it!). One of my NICU friends starts her adult CCU training next month.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 22, 2005

I admit to a bias here, but why would you want to??? I've known people who went in as a new grad and would never even dream of moving. Big people make really big messes and smell infinetly worse than babies.

JMO!

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Dec 22, 2005

I admit to a bias here, but why would you want to??? I've known people who went in as a new grad and would never even dream of moving. Big people make really big messes and smell infinetly worse than babies.
JMO!

Alright, NICU Goddess! I must ask, did you always work in the NICU or did you try other areas during your career? Would you reccomend I go right into NICU and what special tips can you offer?

I have done back breaking labor as a tech for 3 years and I know more is to come in nursing school, so I feel like I'd love NICU after school. I volunteered at one for 6 months and LOVED it there.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 22, 2005

i did work in other areas. i started out on a surgical floor, took the icu course, tried ccu, then a cardiothoracic/gen'l surg icu. that took me ~ 2.5 years. i went to visit a friend working nicu, decided to go there. stayed 2 years. did infection control 7 yrs, then 3 years of night supervision. got tired of the politics @ that level, decided i wanted a job, not a career, went back to nicu, stayed until i retired from that hosp 3+ yrs ago. now working part time casual @ a small level ii nicu closer to my house.

when i graduated (a few years prior to the wheel), all these specialties weren't an option, most people went straight to med-surg. but now, w/so many interesting things to do, i wouldn't recommend going to med-surg unless you really wanted to. if you want to do nicu, or peds, or icu, whatever, do it. but. make sure that wherever you apply to work has a very good new grad program, including didactic time and preceptor. it should take ~ 6 months to be on your own. if you can't get something like that in your community, i would be thinking it over carefully. that's my thinking, and i'm sticking to it!!!