First day at NICU

Nursing Students Male Students

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Hi all,

Yesterday was my first day at the NICU. I had the chance to give IV push a couple times, use a syringe pump, and feed babies. It was, so far, the best experience I had in nursing. I felt elated and very much whole at the end of the day. Coincidentally, it was my first time feeding a baby. Isn't that funny? Thought I would share that with you, since it was quite a positive experience for me.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.

Awesome, good for you. I remember my NICU rotation fondly.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Come join us when you graduate! We always need more Y chromosomes in NICU! There are now 7 male RNs in my unit....

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I hear you man, NICU and the nursery was for some reason very refreshing.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

It is nice hearing these stories since I am DREADING my OB/Peds rotation this semester.

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It is nice hearing these stories since I am DREADING my OB/Peds rotation this semester.

OB wasn't all that bad actually. I couldn't stand peds on the other hand though... Taking an IV out of a 4 year old is plain out miserable with all the screaming and crying :banghead:

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Just volunteer to spend your OB rotation in the NICU. Hardly anyone is brave enough to go there... and it just may change your mind about what unit you want after graduation :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

To the OP, what kind of nursing program are you in? I ask because many BSN programs allow students to choose a specialty to go into for their last semester and if you really find yourself leaning towards the NICU or want to get a chance to try it again before you graduate then that might be a good option for you. Good luck dude! Let us know about the rest of your time in the NICU.

!Chris :specs:

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hi Chris,

Sorry for the late reply. I'm in a "standard" 4 year BSN-RN program, and from the information I could get, there is no option to practice a speciality by the end, including working as an employed student nurse at NICU. I've heard that I would need more courses to be able to work, even after graduating. Anyway, it wont stop me; I had a great experience there (excluding a toxic nurse, but that's part of the deal anywhere). Meanwhile I'll keep learning as much as I can. I will let you guys know how it went. I'm pretty much finished my practicum for this year (a week left), and feel like a dead horse :deadhorse Any of you at school right now?

To the OP, what kind of nursing program are you in? I ask because many BSN programs allow students to choose a specialty to go into for their last semester and if you really find yourself leaning towards the NICU or want to get a chance to try it again before you graduate then that might be a good option for you. Good luck dude! Let us know about the rest of your time in the NICU.

!Chris :specs:

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I'm seriously considering it! Thanks!

7 ?!? That's interesting. I think there is no man here. Do you have to spend other shifts in perinatal and peds, or can you simply stick to NICU where you are? Also, did you had to specialised yourself after becoming an RN? Anyhow, I think I would, just to increase my knowledge and confidence.

Come join us when you graduate! We always need more Y chromosomes in NICU! There are now 7 male RNs in my unit....
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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
hi Chris,

Sorry for the late reply. I'm in a "standard" 4 year BSN-RN program, and from the information I could get, there is no option to practice a speciality by the end, including working as an employed student nurse at NICU. I've heard that I would need more courses to be able to work, even after graduating. Anyway, it wont stop me; I had a great experience there (excluding a toxic nurse, but that's part of the deal anywhere). Meanwhile I'll keep learning as much as I can. I will let you guys know how it went. I'm pretty much finished my practicum for this year (a week left), and feel like a dead horse :deadhorse Any of you at school right now?

That's interesting. I know that a lot of programs offer the last semester to focus in on where you'd like to specialize but its certainly not that way for everyone. The best I can suggest is to try to see if you could volunteer in the NICU or maybe work as a nurses aide there or something. I'm not really sure how it works in that particular area but if your interested in it you should definitely look into it. I am also a student who is currently in a 4 Year BSN program (going into Med/Surg and Peds. in the Fall.)

I'm seriously considering it! Thanks!

7 ?!? That's interesting. I think there is no man here. Do you have to spend other shifts in perinatal and peds, or can you simply stick to NICU where you are? Also, did you had to specialised yourself after becoming an RN? Anyhow, I think I would, just to increase my knowledge and confidence.

I think that SteveRN21 could answer this better then I can but I have heard of programs that allow new grads to be hired into the NICU and with a proper orientation and preceptor program then they are able to work as NICU nurses. There are those who work in Pediatrics or in some form of Maternity before going to the NICU but I don't think that its necessarily mandatory. Then again I am not the NICU expert (although its definitely an area I am interested in as well.)

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in Acute Rehab.

I'm in my third semester...currently doing psych but OB is next and I can't wait to go to the NICU! I know that's where I want to be (hence the screen name).

A friend of mine works as a clerk n the NICU at a teaching hospital here and she gave me a tour and let me talk to the nurses. I'm on fire for it already...can't wait!

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