Is it like this everywhere??

weetziebat · Feb 28, 2006

KK, first want to just say how sorry I am that you are having to put up with this. I think many places play favorites, which is soooooo unprofessional, but your job sounds downright stinky!

In NICU, and any other unit, teamwork can make your job or break it. I worked in NICU many years ago and we had a fantastic team, it was like working as one.

Can't really give any advice. Think I might take my concerns to the NM, but if yours is useless, I'd be really hesitant about going over her head. Certainly hope you find an answer to these problems. The only one these childish nurses are hurting are their innocent patients.

But if its any consolation, I think you are doing the right thing and the others in your post should grow up!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2006

No, it's not like that everywhere. Definitely not.

On my unit, we always say "your baby" and "my baby" just because that's how we are. It's not so much a, "That's YOUR responsiblity" kind of a thing. It's more of an endearment, like a possessive thing. We treat these babies as if they were our own.

That's why we work as a team - we are devoted to giving these babies the best care possible, and that takes teamwork. I don't care if it's "my" baby or "your" baby - if the kid is satting 50, I'm going to do something about it!!! Same with admissions - we want the nurse doing the admission to be able to focus on the baby. That's why she completely gives up her original assignment (usually assigned 2-3 easier babies and they are split up and added to other nurses' assignments) and why we all gather around to help her with admission procedures and mark down her initial vitals, measurements, etc. We don't actually do her charting though - we write it all down on scratch paper for her to transcribe later on when things calm down.

For arterial sticks, we have a small study guide with a short written test. After that is completed, you have to get three sticks before you are signed off. Not try three, GET three. That way, we know your technique is safe and skilled. Once you're signed off, you can do them on your own. But the way we do it, at least, is that we always have another nurse to "pull back" the blood so you always have support right next to you.

BamaGirlRN · Feb 28, 2006

First off you do have some valid concerns and as a new RN you should definitely talk to your NM, even if she is "completely out of touch", as you say. She would probablys really want to know because if new grads or RNs to the unit aren't happy and she can't retain these RN's it is ultimately her responsibility to know why or to figure out why. Plus I am sure you would feel better voicing your concerns with her, we all feel better when we get thing off our chest.

Also...I'm having a real problem with people not being helpful as far as answering valid questions that will help me take better care of my patients. I find myself often times having to leave my room to find the Charge Nurse to get answers that an experienced nurse in my area could have given me.

I have only been in the NICU almost two years and I find I am still asking questions. Your Charge nurse is an excellent person to go to. Maybe the other RN's aren't comfortable yet answering new grads questions. I was also very frustrated with this when I was the only new grad on my unit for about a year. Even while orienting I'd get different answers to the same questions from severeal different seasoned RN's.

Same with admissions - we want the nurse doing the admission to be able to focus on the baby. That's why she completely gives up her original assignment (usually assigned 2-3 easier babies and they are split up and added to other nurses' assignments) and why we all gather around to help her with admission procedures and mark down her initial vitals, measurements, etc.

While giving up a whole assignment to admit would be wonderful, it is not always feasible. But I do agree 100% with this statement, those first couple of hours(sometimes more) are crucial and it is always a welcome to have pod partners who are helpful, even if it is just to "scribe". In my unit I have never seen just one RN at an admitting bedside. About 80% of our babies are outborn so they usually already have tubes and lines and abx on board, fluids going, etc. So when a brand new babies comes from LDR it definitely needs to be a team effort.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2006

While giving up a whole assignment to admit would be wonderful, it is not always feasible. But I do agree 100% with this statement, those first couple of hours(sometimes more) are crucial and it is always a welcome to have pod partners who are helpful, even if it is just to "scribe". In my unit I have never seen just one RN at an admitting bedside. About 80% of our babies are outborn so they usually already have tubes and lines and abx on board, fluids going, etc. So when a brand new babies comes from LDR it definitely needs to be a team effort.

Maybe it's because about 75% of our babies are born at our hospital - they come up from the delivery room with an ETT at most. The first couple of hours are busy with putting in lines or IVs, doing labs, starting IV fluids and medications, giving surfactant, getting x-rays, etc. We have always assigned people to pick up the admit nurses' babies so she could concentrate on the admit. If it's really crazy busy, in a few hours when things calm down she might pick back up one of the original babies, but usually not.

To the orginal poster - are there any other NICUs near your home? It just sounds like this is a bit of a toxic unit. Talk to your manager, and let her know that you are not having a supportive experience. Maybe don't outright say that you want to leave if things don't get better, but you could imply it.

KK7724 · Feb 28, 2006

To the orginal poster - are there any other NICUs near your home? It just sounds like this is a bit of a toxic unit. Talk to your manager, and let her know that you are not having a supportive experience. Maybe don't outright say that you want to leave if things don't get better, but you could imply it.

Well...not really. It would be about an hour's drive. I haven't told anyone on the unit this yet, but I am moving out of state in the next several months to South Carolina. There is a fantastic university hospital there with a Levell III that does ECMO, but it seems very hard to get on with them. They currently don't have any NICU positions open according to their website. I got the nurse manager's name and number from the recruiter, but I"m not sure if it's okay to call and let her know I'm interested and when I'd be coming to the area?? Like, I said...I'm new to Nursing and especially the whole market yourself kind of stuff. Here in Alabama--it's no problem getting a job anywhere!

Also, I am nervous that if I do get the job, I won't be as proficient as they'd like. I have never been given an oscillator yet in an assignment and I'm still learning things every day. I really want to work with the higher acuity babies. I do like to be sent to work with the grower-feeders every now and then because it is a nice change of pace sometimes.

By the time I move, I will have been an RN for a year. The one thing I have going for me, is that this university hospital does NOT hire new graduates into the unit...so, that is one good thing I have going in my favor so far.

Any suggestions?? I think you mentioned your hospital was a university hospital??

Thanks-:balloons:

KK7724 · Mar 8, 2006

Well everyone...

Just wanted to type a quick update. I did call the Nurse Manager at the hospital in Charleston. She said that they are fully staffed at the moment and have no positions open! I prepared and wrote a list of questions down. I asked her and she was very nice and answered all my questions. It is the dream place to work! Kangaroo care, in-house residents and NNP's, great patient/nurse ratios.....university hospital etc.

I am bummed! I asked if I could still email her my resume` and she said yes. I don't know what to do. I can't see myself doing anything other than NICU....Level III Nicu.....i'm not sure what to do. There is a pediatric ICU position open....maybe I could do this until a position became available?? I don't want to lose my skills and I have to hold down a job....the nearest Level III Nicu besides the one I want is an hour and a half away. My fiance does not want me to do this...and I understand why.

.......bummed!

mac23 · Mar 11, 2006

Is this MUSC? I'd just keep checking because I know they use travelers....there are several positions posted for travel nurses in the NICU at MUSC. If you're interested in the PICU, the unit at MUSC is fabulous. Great docs and nurses plus you'd be building your skill set not losing it. PICU would allow you to work with oscillators, jets, vents just like NICU but with a bigger age range (0-18, sometimes older) and a broader diagnosis. I did a year in PICU and learned a ton but eventually went back to NICU. GIve it some thought you may end up loving it. Also once your foot is in the door it would probably be easier to transfer to NICU. Just be sure to ask about how long you'd have to stay in the PICU (if you did it) before you could transfer. Good luck!

Well everyone...
Just wanted to type a quick update. I did call the Nurse Manager at the hospital in Charleston. She said that they are fully staffed at the moment and have no positions open! I prepared and wrote a list of questions down. I asked her and she was very nice and answered all my questions. It is the dream place to work! Kangaroo care, in-house residents and NNP's, great patient/nurse ratios.....university hospital etc.
I am bummed! I asked if I could still email her my resume` and she said yes. I don't know what to do. I can't see myself doing anything other than NICU....Level III Nicu.....i'm not sure what to do. There is a pediatric ICU position open....maybe I could do this until a position became available?? I don't want to lose my skills and I have to hold down a job....the nearest Level III Nicu besides the one I want is an hour and a half away. My fiance does not want me to do this...and I understand why.
.......bummed!

KK7724 · Mar 11, 2006

Thanks for your advice about PICU. I am definitely interested and I thought that it would give me a broader skills range too! I will check into the committment involved. I know at my current facility, it's 6 months.

I'll keep ya updated! Thanks for the encouragement. :)

futuregaspasser · Mar 27, 2006

I just wanted to type you a quick note to tell you not to be discouraged. I am also a new grad (May of '05) working in NICU. I absolutely LOVE it and everyone in it. They are all very helpful, willing to pitch in at any moment (but not over run you) and answer any questions imaginable without degrading you. This includes the NEO's.

So I guess what I am saying is, there are places out there that don't treat you the way your Unit is. Hopefully you find one soon! I just hope I can find another one with such great morale and team players. We are looking to move when DH graduates nursing school.