Male Nurses in the NICU

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I have three more months until I graduate and I want to work in the NICU. This may not be the common choice for a male nurse, but I really love this area of nursing. Some of my best clinical rotations were during the OB semester.

Do any of you female nurses in NICU work with men? Any input or advice?

Do any guys out there that work in NICU have any advice?

Thanks

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, adult med/surg, peds BMT.

I worked with a couple nurses in the NICU at my last job. One was older Teddy bear of a nurse and it was just adorable watching him handling the babies. He was very masculine and good about it. Another guy was very knowledgable and an excellent teacher. Don't limit yourself. Do what you love. Chances are you are going to spend many hours at work and honing your craft at tghe very least you owe to yourselfand your patients to love what you do.

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I am one of 7 males in the NICU where I work.

In fact I have worked in 3 different NICU's and have never been the only male.

Anecdotally I would guess that the demographics in NICU would match the percentage of males in nursing overall.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Several men in the NICU at my hospital. They are wonderful, almost universally liked. So please don't be afraid to go for it.

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Go for it, man! It's fun stuff.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

One of the links above was to my thread regarding this very issue.

I *still* love my job in the NICU, and I think most of the staff are getting used to having me there. The parents are all good with it, too, so far, as soon as we get past the "are you the doctor?" part of it.

I went into the NICU right out of school, and certainly encourage you to follow your heart if this is what you love doing. It's great, after 25+ years in the workforce, to finally have a job where I truly look forward to going back to work.

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Been a NICU nurse for 10 years and love it. Here I'm one of 4 and its no big deal. The last hospital I was at I was mostly the only one and LOVED it. The positive attention you get is great. Remember it usually takes one female and one male to make that baby. You can bridge that gap that brings a father into the mix. The pros are countless for male nurses in the nicu. Follow your gut.:yeah:

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I've been a NICU nurse for nearly 5 years... and a per diem ER and PICU nurse too.... and NICU is my passion.

I just finished my NNP degree, so I am now a minority in (almost) every sense!

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Specializes in L&D, OBED, NICU, Lactation.

I've been in the NICU for almost 4 years and have also done travel nursing. I spend a ton of time at deliveries and got a per diem position doing L&D/OB/Nursery. In addition, I'm certified as a lactation counselor. At my current hospital, I am the only guy but it has never bothered me. As someone mentioned before, it really can make a difference when working with the fathers.

There really is nothing quite like the NICU, it is a special place and the people I know that do the best there are the ones that are the most passionate about it.

Good luck!

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