what inspired you to work in nicu?

TeenyBabyRN · Oct 21, 2003

I have wanted to work in the NICU ever since I knew what neonatal intensive care was - probably about sophomore year in HS. I just felt that the babies needed me more than the big people. I'm (very!) reluctantly changing over to big people for a while to meet requirements to enter a CRNA program, but NICU will always be my first love - except for pharmacology and chemistry, which makes anesthesia a pretty good match for me, I think!

On a side note, what is it that you wish the NICU nurses had done differently. I'm always trying to think of what I would want or need if in that situation, but since I've never been there, I'm sure some things never occur to me that would be big to the baby's family. BTW - several of the nurses in my unit once had a baby in our unit, some were in nursing school at the time, some had not even thought about nursing until their baby's NICU stay.

Good luck to you - It sounds like you will make a great nurse someday.

TxADNstudent · Oct 22, 2003

Thanks for your reply. When my little girl was in NICU I wish I would have been informed more of her situation. Also I don't know much about this but I know I watched her from a distance having 2 very painful looking procedures with nothing given for pain, I've seen where other people don't believe that they feel pain or will even remember. But all I know is that I believe that my daughters short time on earth was full of pain and suffering. The nurse gave me the option of holding her but I wish she would have given me the proper instructions of holding her. I held her and talked to her and rubbed her hand which now I think that it was all to much for her. (like as in too much stimulation maybe?)

Shortly to answer your question, I wish I was more informed on exactly what was wrong with her. Also I wish I would've had more pictures. I have one with me holding her but you can't see her that good. I cannot stress enough about the pictures, I didn't realize how important that was to me until she was gone.

You seem like your a great nurse! You seem to realy care. Being in nursing school it seems a lot are in it for the money. It is good to see that you really care!

kitty29 · Oct 22, 2003

I was a premie, and was lucky enough to be placed here out of nursing school.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2003

My 36 weeker. Showed me it wasn't as scary as I thought to work NICU.

pengland1965 · Oct 27, 2003

Dear TxADNstudent

It sounds as though you are carrying alot of guilt and anger. I just wanted to say, in my experience, A parents touch is much different than a strangers touch. All babies, even extremely premature babies, need their parents touch and to be held. That is why many units are adopting Kangaroo Care. My guess is, it probably didnt stress her near as much as you remember.

I would also guess, if your baby's nurse didn't correct you on the way you were holding your daughter, you were probably doing ok. I always try to stay near my baby's bedside, but also give my parents privacy. Especially if I believe the baby isn't going to live.

As for painful procedures, I'm so very sorry for your experience. No baby should have to endure pain. The Joint Commission is really concentrating on pain at this time. Hopefully, pain control will be as common as IV's in all NICU's soon.

I believe NICU nurses come to the unit for many reasons. Personal experiences is a big reason. My advice, learn what you can now about your daughter's experience. Get all your questions answered first. Then consider a career in the NICU. It costs so much in time and money to orient someone new to the unit, only to find they can't handle the stress. Good luck and hope you find your answers

Gompers, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2003

I decided to be a NICU nurse after reading Elizabeth Mehren's "Born Too Soon" - up until that day I never even considered nursing! I think I was about 16, and I actually only read a few pages that were printed in Reader's Digest. But sometimes you just KNOW, and I felt like the words jumped off the page and right into my heart. This woman's daughter died in the NICU, but the way she talked about the nurses...she considered them friends, heroes, angels...I wanted to be that to someone, to help someone that way. I come from a medical-type family, and premature babies had always amazed me with their unbelievable strength, especially given their size. So to me, it was just like BOOM! I knew.

BTW, I think every NICU nurse should read that book - having seen the experience of losing a baby in the NICU from a parent's eyes is something I try to remember every day I work.

HarleyDivaRN · Nov 24, 2003

I decided to become a NICU nurse when I did my clinical rotation for Peds and my instructor sent me to the NICU to be an observer. I was so fascinated with the lil ones and how the nurses were taking care of them. It seems as though the lil ones appreciated being able to live from day to day and I wanted to be a part of helping the lil ones to live from day to day. You cannot believe the struggle and the fight these lil ones have because it is our inborn tendency to breathe and live and they are fighters....and I am a soldier helping them to win their battle...... :kiss

kitty29 · Dec 1, 2003

I was a premie, and guess I must have loved the experience so much I wanted to hang out with these guys! Been here for almost 25 years now! :)

RydenTate · Dec 3, 2003

i saw your post and couldn't help but tell you why i am working so hard to become an rn in the nicu. on july 6, 2003 our son ryden was born 12 weeks too soon weighing only 2 lbs 9.5 ozs and 15 inches long. he was in the nicu for 74 long days and came home on september 16, 10 days before my due date was supposed to be. after all that we had gone through i was inspired to do what the nicu nurses did. i found myself doing everything they would do to ryden while in the nicu myself. i knew all the terms they used and everything. before i wasn't sure what i wanted to do career wise, but thanks to those nurses and doctors in the nicu ryden is healthy as he can be and the most beautiful baby ever!

to see pics of ryden from birth go here:

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rydentate/my_photos

HarleyDivaRN · Dec 4, 2003

RydenTate,

I really enjoyed your photos of your baby.........and it makes me appreciate more my job and it gives a better perception of the parents point of view as well.............may God Bless you and your family.................:)

RydenTate · Dec 5, 2003

SweetWisperz,

Thank you for looking at our pictures, and I am glad to know that it helps that what you do everyday makes everything worth while. I know that if it wasn't for Nurses like you I don't know where Ryden would be today. I will be starting school in 2004 to become an RN and to work in the NICU, it has most definately changed the way I look at life. Thank you again!-RydenTate;)