New Grad NICU Nurse

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I recently accepted a job a New Grad Nurse Residency position in the NICU. The hospital I’ll be working at is a level IV. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for new grads going into NICU or just advice for someone going into the NICU in general.

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Specializes in NICU.

NICU is a wonderful place to be in,the fast pace,constant learning,new technology.There are many parts to it,you must come in with your A game every day,there is much sorrow and joy.From day one be devoted to learning as much as you can  handle,ask questions,read at home the Core Curriculum.If life hands you and problems it is a blessing to be at a job the occupies all the space in your head.You will feel awkward,uncomfortable,useless at times,it takes a good two years to feel comfortable.When you are eligible go for the certification exam.Be prepared to have families that freak out,abuse staff,all coming from grief at seeing their tiny baby  with normal limbs but awful lungs.They want to touch ,hold,stroke,a micropremie that can barely tolerate being looked at without desaturating. That is why the day of discharge home after months of therapy is such a win....Good luck hope your experience will be as rewarding.

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Specializes in NICU.

I as well started as a new grad in a Level IV. You need to realize from Day 1 that you know nothing. Nursing school teaches you little to nothing about NICU. So, you are a blank slate and it is entirely up to you how much you learn.

  • Get used copies of "Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" and/or "Merenstein & Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care". Both books are highly recommended to teach you a vast majority of what you most likely encounter in a Level IV. Many consider them the Bibles of the NICU.
  • Make sure you get a quality preceptor. A good preceptor will adapt their teaching as the weeks go on. Their job is to get you to a point that you are a competent NICU nurse, which means that they expect you to be a sponge, ready to absorb everything they teach you.
  • Once you are on your own, you will feel terrified to be on your own. Rest assured that your coworkers are there as a resource person (Every nurse there has been in your shoes). It will take 18 mo- 2 yrs before you feel confident in your skills. 
  • Regularly ask your charge nurses to assign you patients just outside your comfort zone. You will not grow as a nurse by working week after week with patients you are comfortable with.
  • You will experience the full range of parents. From the parents that are hyper demanding and "fires" every nurse that is assigned to their baby to the parents that bring in endless supplies of candies and snacks and are truly grateful for their "Angels sent from Heaven" to care for their baby. 
1
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15 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

I as well started as a new grad in a Level IV. You need to realize from Day 1 that you know nothing. Nursing school teaches you little to nothing about NICU. So, you are a blank slate and it is entirely up to you how much you learn.

  • Get used copies of "Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" and/or "Merenstein & Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care". Both books are highly recommended to teach you a vast majority of what you most likely encounter in a Level IV. Many consider them the Bibles of the NICU.
  • Make sure you get a quality preceptor. A good preceptor will adapt their teaching as the weeks go on. Their job is to get you to a point that you are a competent NICU nurse, which means that they expect you to be a sponge, ready to absorb everything they teach you.
  • Once you are on your own, you will feel terrified to be on your own. Rest assured that your coworkers are there as a resource person (Every nurse there has been in your shoes). It will take 18 mo- 2 yrs before you feel confident in your skills. 
  • Regularly ask your charge nurses to assign you patients just outside your comfort zone. You will not grow as a nurse by working week after week with patients you are comfortable with.
  • You will experience the full range of parents. From the parents that are hyper demanding and "fires" every nurse that is assigned to their baby to the parents that bring in endless supplies of candies and snacks and are truly grateful for their "Angels sent from Heaven" to care for their baby. 

This was extremely helpful! I'm definitely going to look into the books that you recommended. Thank you! Are there any supplies you'd recommend for me to purchase before my first day? My start date isn't until February but I am just trying to be prepared. 

17 hours ago, Leader25 said:

NICU is a wonderful place to be in,the fast pace,constant learning,new technology.There are many parts to it,you must come in with your A game every day,there is much sorrow and joy.From day one be devoted to learning as much as you can  handle,ask questions,read at home the Core Curriculum.If life hands you and problems it is a blessing to be at a job the occupies all the space in your head.You will feel awkward,uncomfortable,useless at times,it takes a good two years to feel comfortable.When you are eligible go for the certification exam.Be prepared to have families that freak out,abuse staff,all coming from grief at seeing their tiny baby  with normal limbs but awful lungs.They want to touch ,hold,stroke,a micropremie that can barely tolerate being looked at without desaturating. That is why the day of discharge home after months of therapy is such a win....Good luck hope your experience will be as rewarding.

Thank you for this!

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