New Grad NICU Support Thread

Hi everyone. So I'm not a new grad, I have Adult ICU experience but I am starting the NICU at my hospital at the end of the month. I totally feel like a new grad all over again. I am so beyond excited as this has been my dream job. I can't wait to start. I actually go to the NICU pretty much every night I work to learn a little something from the nurses if I get a break. Just can't wait!!!!

Hey everyone,

I am so glad I had stumbled upon this post. I am currently in a new grad residency program at a Level IV NICU. I went into nursing school wanting to become a NICU nurse and I'm so glad I can finally call myself one. The learning curve is definitely steep!!! But, at the end of the day I am loving every single moment of my residency. One of my challenges currently is learning how to prioritize and manage my time and cares more efficiently. Does anyone have any tips when you have feeds for two babies at once. I seem to always fall off track with my feeds and cares due to my lengthy assessments and charting.

Hey everyone,

I am so glad I had stumbled upon this post. I am currently in a new grad residency program at a Level IV NICU. I went into nursing school wanting to become a NICU nurse and I'm so glad I can finally call myself one. The learning curve is definitely steep!!! But, at the end of the day I am loving every single moment of my residency. One of my challenges currently is learning how to prioritize and manage my time and cares more efficiently. Does anyone have any tips when you have feeds for two babies at once. I seem to always fall off track with my feeds and cares due to my lengthy assessments and charting.

Start early. We have about an hour window that it's generally acceptable to feed. So if the babies both eat at 8, I'll start checking in the first at 7:15. That way, I'm ready to sit down and feed right at 7:30. We nipple babies for no longer than 25 minutes. I will also start with the quickest. So I'll set up the gavage first, then move on to the nippler. Or I'll feed the 5-10 minute feeder before the baby that will take the full 25 minutes. I also chart as I go preferably in the room.

Hi guys! I am new grad starting in a level 4 NICU in 3 weeks! so nervous

Hey guys I start in 2 weeks,,,,level 4. Im so super nervous, any tips? anything i should study

Hi everyone! I am a New grad passed NCLEX march 2018! I just accepted my first position as a NICU nurse and im so excited yet anxious! I want to do my best and want to research as much as I can prior to starting in about a month. Is there somehting I have to join to be apart of the support group!? :)

I don't think so, just subscribe to &/or participate in the thread!

Hey! I work in a level 4 as well--I started in October.

I'd say study the policy & procedures on your NICU 1st & foremost (bc that's what you are legally responsible for).

Then study common diseases in your NICU. Usually they are RDS, IVH, PDA, VSD, PFO, ROP, NEC, thermoreg., Developmental care, etc. (can't think of anything else atm).

Assessments is also really important--i.e., noticing increased WOB & what it looks like, what to do for it/what's causing it (for example, if baby was just weaned from ETT to Biphasic and has increased WOB, maybe they aren't tolerating it & a blood gas needs to be done early. Or if they haven't been weaned, maybe they have secretions that just need suctioned out!)

Good books are 'Merenstein & Garners Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care'; the 'Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing' (by Verklan & walden), this site General | Newborn Nursery | Stanford Medicine for assessments head-to toe; and for review Qs, 'Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' (by Watson).

I know this response is a little late but hopefully it's helpful!! From one NICU nurse to another :)

Hey! I work in a level 4 as well--I started in October.

I'd say study the policy & procedures on your NICU 1st & foremost (bc that's what you are legally responsible for).

Then study common diseases in your NICU. Usually they are RDS, IVH, PDA, VSD, PFO, ROP, NEC, thermoreg., Developmental care, etc. (can't think of anything else atm).

Assessments is also really important--i.e., noticing increased WOB & what it looks like, what to do for it/what's causing it (for example, if baby was just weaned from ETT to Biphasic and has increased WOB, maybe they aren't tolerating it & a blood gas needs to be done early. Or if they haven't been weaned, maybe they have secretions that just need suctioned out!)

Good books are 'Merenstein & Garners Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care'; the 'Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing' (by Verklan & walden), this site General | Newborn Nursery | Stanford Medicine for assessments head-to toe; and for review Qs, 'Certification and Core Review for Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' (by Watson).

I know this response is a little late but hopefully it's helpful!! From one NICU nurse to another :)

Hi everyone, how's it going? I started in October 2017 in a level 4 NICU as a new-grad! It's definitely been challenging, but I can't imagine myself working anywhere else!

Welcome to the land of the little people. Your first 18 mo. will be the most stressful, until you get comfortable with all the various types of patients you are going to deal with. I was a nervous wreck the first time I took care of a 600 g micro preemie. Now, they are by far my favorite babies to take care of.

Hello! I am not a new grad but I will be starting in the NICU 7/1! I've been working PP for the last year and now am moving into my dream job! I am also the mother of former NICU patients- 26 week twin boys, one passed away at 3 days old due to Grade IV IVH and my survivor spent 109 days in the NICU. My 3nd son also spent 3.5 weeks in the NICU because I had chorio and he got meningitis from it.

I've floated to NICU a few times taking care of feeder/growers and every time I'm there it just feels like home to me! I am so excited to start my new job but terrified at the same time! I will have 10 weeks of orientation so that makes me feel slightly better :)