New Grad Decisions MICU vs NICU?

Slobgob · Mar 22, 2005

Sorry... I don't really have an answer. I've been thinking about the exact same senario the last few weeks. I'm still in nursing school, but I look at these two fields as my two front-runners.

Here are some of my remedial thoughts:

Pros of MICU:

1) Most nursing knowledge is directed towards adults, I would be putting more past schooling to work.

2) No pooping, crying babies? Eh... well, some. =)

3) More career movement options... CCRN, CRNA, CCNS, CCNP, along with a bunch of ICU type units that you could transition to.

4) You get to talk to your patients sometimes... and they thank you.

5) You seem to learn more and have more lab/medication autonomy. This might be the #1 draw for me... I want to be master of the Drip.

Pros of NICU:

1) Yeah, less experience from school, but a baby is still a small adult.

2) No pooping, crying 400 lb patients. =)

3) You get to experience L&D, OR, Postpartum settings when consults or NICU teams are needed.

4) The nurses, in my experience, were nicer and more supportive. Personally, my L&D/PP rotation was horrible (I'm a guy), but the NICU was great.

5) It seems a little slower in the NICU, and if your hospital is set-up with large bays instead of one-baby rooms... you've got instant access to a dozen+ nurses to help just in case.

6) Babies have less past medical complications.

Remember that I'm just a student... so take my considerations with a grain of salt. And if push comes to shove... flip a coin and consider the pros and cons of your steathoscope:

MICU: A sports-car-like Master Cardiology Littman.... grrrrr....

NICU: A mini-cooper-like Neonate Littman... not so powerful... but oh so cute!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

Can you try shadowing a nurse in each area first? Also, what are you long-term goals? If they include anesthesia or something like that, go for the adults. The NICU is a totally different world from most of the hospital - the patients, their conditions, the medications, the technology, the assessments, all of it - you'll have to learn it from scratch if you come from an adult area, and unlearn it when you leave the NICU. That's why NICUs almost prefer new grads - fresh slates!

Spending a shift in each area might make things click for you. I personally could never do adult ICU - the patients are just too big, with so many problems, I just don't know if I could handle that. I think part of my aversion to adults is that many of their problems are caused by their lifestyle choices, and sometimes I just lose my compassion. Others don't understand how anyone can do NICU - it can be very emotionally drainging. When babies get better and go home it's wonderful, but when things go the other way, many people can't handle that.

So ask about that shadowing.

KatrinaPM · Mar 22, 2005

I've been to both areas. I like both areas. The only thing I get worried about in MICU is possibly not having reinforcements or a cohesive team. I know there is that in the NICU. At least in the units I am applying for. I know each unit is different.

Going to CRNA school is always something that has been in the back of my mind, but my fiance is going to be in med school for the next few years, so I wouldn't go for years, like 5-10.

Decisions! Ugh! I love that I have choices, but sometimes its just easier to deal with the dictated consequences. :)

Slobgob · Mar 22, 2005

Gompers brought up a good point I forgot to mention...

Adults are guitly, babies are innocent! =)

I currently work in a psych/rehab hospital... and WAY too many times I've caught myself mumbling, "You've caused this problem yourself".

Diabetes floor... yeah, those horrible cases/wounds were probably because people didn't respect thier diabetes.

Oncology floor... lip/lung cancer from smoking.

Ortho floor... driving motorcycle at 100mph

ER... guy got himself shot.

Maternity... her eigth baby with no husband or job.

I'm not really that calous... but you find these senarios in every adult floor. In the NICU... its never the baby's fault! If you baby is sick, its either bad luck or the mother's fault. You'll never get burnt out by your patient's lack of respect for their health... or their bad attitudes. You just get to help the innocent.

Heh. I'm talkin myself into NICU...

KatrinaPM · Mar 23, 2005

Gompers brought up a good point I forgot to mention...
Adults are guitly, babies are innocent! =)
I currently work in a psych/rehab hospital... and WAY too many times I've caught myself mumbling, "You've caused this problem yourself".
Diabetes floor... yeah, those horrible cases/wounds were probably because people didn't respect thier diabetes.
Oncology floor... lip/lung cancer from smoking.
Ortho floor... driving motorcycle at 100mph
ER... guy got himself shot.
Maternity... her eigth baby with no husband or job.
I'm not really that calous... but you find these senarios in every adult floor. In the NICU... its never the baby's fault! If you baby is sick, its either bad luck or the mother's fault. You'll never get burnt out by your patient's lack of respect for their health... or their bad attitudes. You just get to help the innocent.
Heh. I'm talkin myself into NICU...

I have an interview next week for the NICU and I'm so excited! I have never been so excited yet, I mean, MICU would be great experience but I'm not thrilled about the prospect of starting there.

Just out of curiousity, how do you feel about being a guy and possibly working in the NICU, I rarely see men in that area. I'm sure you'd be an amazing asset.

If I get the NICU offer, I think I'm going for it.

Maybe save my back. Also, in the future when I'm pregnant I won't have to worry about 'strain' as well. I'm super focused on that aspect for some reason.

*Katrina

Slobgob · Mar 23, 2005

"Maybe save my back."

Heh. that aspect is probably one of the best reasons. I don't know how many clinical days i've ended with a back ache... and i'm doing less than 8 hours and still in my 20s. I know it will only get worse...

As for me being a male... in NICU? Well, I'm actually just finishing my rotation for maternity this week... so i'll let you in on my experiences.

L&D: Every nurse asked the patient before I entered: I've got a male nursing student... is it OK? Most of them say "sure", some say no. To tell you the truth, the patients are more accepting than the nurses. Its demoralizing.

C-sections: Boring.

Nursery: Feeding babies is not my life's ambition.

Triage: The nurses were all rude. They thought everything was inappropriate for a male.

Post-partum: I couldn't do fundal checks, I couldn't do lochia checks. They spent all shift one time bashing their husbands, and men in general.

NICU: Every nurse loved me. The CNS there let me be her assisting nurse while inserting a PICC line (help her scrub, gown-up, give her supplies, position the baby, comfort and syringe sucrose). She spent the whole time recruiting me... telling me that they had 1 other male and they all loved him. She told me that males are good role models for the dads that come in. Sure, the nurses often were a little femine in their social subject matter, but you get that anywhere. We had some great conversations, socially, and they didn't hesitate to answer every question I had regarding their practice. I gotta say, it was one of the best days I've ever had.

I even joke around with my friends that a male NICU nurse would always have a friday night date after so many women see him holding and taking care of all those babies.

My girlfriend looks positively upon my possible decision to work in the NICU since I'd be a great help with raising our own future children.... she doesn't so much like the joke about friday night dates. =)

LindaMarie76 · Mar 23, 2005

Pros of MICU:
1) 2) No pooping, crying babies? Eh... well, some. =)
3) 4) You get to talk to your patients sometimes... and they thank you.

HAHAHAHAHA

I have cleaned "rivers of poop" falling like a waterfall off of a bed due to a necrotic bowel or obstruction. It's that much worse (oh so much worse) when the patient is 300+ pounds. Rectal tubes become the nurses' best friend.

Crying babies? How about NEURO patients???? Ahhhhhhhhh. You can't reason with them, they're screaming at the top of their lungs at 3 AM and making no sense, AND they're pooping.

Thanks? HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! How about getting poop flung on you? On purpose? Getting bitten -- on purpose!

LOL!

I've been giving serious thought to NICU myself.

KatrinaPM · Mar 23, 2005

Neuro??? *gags*

Never ever ever ever would I ever consider doing neuro. Ever.

I think a male NICU nurse would be awesome role modeling as well...

Why is it that baby poops are so much less smelly than adults? :) I hope that this NICU position comes through. I would be SUCH a happy camper!

I think I sold myself on NICU.

Oh, and about my back. I'm in my 20's too...but no reason to push the healthy body thing by lifting obese patients.

:balloons:

HAHAHAHAHA
I have cleaned "rivers of poop" falling like a waterfall off of a bed due to a necrotic bowel or obstruction. It's that much worse (oh so much worse) when the patient is 300+ pounds. Rectal tubes become the nurses' best friend.
Crying babies? How about NEURO patients???? Ahhhhhhhhh. You can't reason with them, they're screaming at the top of their lungs at 3 AM and making no sense, AND they're pooping.
Thanks? HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! How about getting poop flung on you? On purpose? Getting bitten -- on purpose!
LOL!
I've been giving serious thought to NICU myself.

nursingblahblah · Apr 12, 2005

NICU: Every nurse loved me. The CNS there let me be her assisting nurse while inserting a PICC line (help her scrub, gown-up, give her supplies, position the baby, comfort and syringe sucrose). She spent the whole time recruiting me... telling me that they had 1 other male and they all loved him. She told me that males are good role models for the dads that come in. Sure, the nurses often were a little femine in their social subject matter, but you get that anywhere. We had some great conversations, socially, and they didn't hesitate to answer every question I had regarding their practice. I gotta say, it was one of the best days I've ever had.
I even joke around with my friends that a male NICU nurse would always have a friday night date after so many women see him holding and taking care of all those babies.
My girlfriend looks positively upon my possible decision to work in the NICU since I'd be a great help with raising our own future children.... she doesn't so much like the joke about friday night dates. =)

I have aLOT of family that has been in NICU the best nurse my daughter had WAS MALE it was weird to see that big big big guy with those kids but like i said he was the best

saminde · Apr 13, 2005

HAHAHAHAHA
I have cleaned "rivers of poop" falling like a waterfall off of a bed due to a necrotic bowel or obstruction. It's that much worse (oh so much worse) when the patient is 300+ pounds. Rectal tubes become the nurses' best friend.
Crying babies? How about NEURO patients???? Ahhhhhhhhh. You can't reason with them, they're screaming at the top of their lungs at 3 AM and making no sense, AND they're pooping.
Thanks? HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! How about getting poop flung on you? On purpose? Getting bitten -- on purpose!
LOL!
I've been giving serious thought to NICU myself.

I was reading this string... thinking about my options, and I must say... It never occurred to me that this is how it is in ICU. Is it any ICU, or a certain one... just Neuro? I'm graduating with my BSN in December 05 and already know that my long term goal is to be a CRNA, but I dread going to the ICU because I keep hearing that the more experienced nurses tear up the new grads, just for kicks! The hospital I am considering offers internship programs for MICU, SICU, CVICU, PICU... also OR. I am struggling with where to go for the best experience. I have two small children and I'm not sure how long I will have to wait to go back to school again (could be 5 years or so!). I worry that if I don't take an ICU experience as a new grad, I'll never go there... but at the same time, I love the OR environment- and feel excited just thinking about being in there! Any advice? :uhoh3:

saminde · Apr 13, 2005

I was reading this string... thinking about my options, and I must say... It never occurred to me that this is how it is in ICU. Is it any ICU, or a certain one... just Neuro? I'm graduating with my BSN in December 05 and already know that my long term goal is to be a CRNA, but I dread going to the ICU because I keep hearing that the more experienced nurses tear up the new grads, just for kicks! The hospital I am considering offers internship programs for MICU, SICU, CVICU, PICU... also OR. I am struggling with where to go for the best experience. I have two small children and I'm not sure how long I will have to wait to go back to school again (could be 5 years or so!). I worry that if I don't take an ICU experience as a new grad, I'll never go there... but at the same time, I love the OR environment- and feel excited just thinking about being in there! Any advice?

Another detail that I forgot to include is that I have a PACU externship this summer...