New NICU RN First Day

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 16, 2017

Your first day is likely to be spent in a huge auditorium filling out forms for HR -- insurance, disability insurance (please sign up for the disability insurance -- it's saved my butt on several occaisions!) and listening to the history, values, mission statement and PR stuff about your hospital. Bring your favorite pen and a small notebook to scribble down questions you want to ask, relevant notes and the phone numbers you'll need. (Be sure to get the phone numbers of anyone you meet who is going to NICU, L & D, nursery or any related specialty. It really helps to know someone on your unit and on the units you're likely to be floating to someday or transferring patients into and out of.)

Later in the week, you'll be in the classroom with other RNs learning policies and procedures, how their specific IV pumps, PCAs and emergency equipment works and probably taking med calculation exams, rhythm exams, etc. You'll have classes about your specialty -- a lot of it will be boring and repetitious, but remember that it's work. Dress the way they want you to dress (usually business casual) and behave as if the educator will be discussing your behavior with your manager -- because they will be. Since you're asking the question, I'm sure this doesn't pertain to you, but screwing around or screwing up in the classroom will be reflected in your evaluation and may even (in extreme cases) lead to termination. I'm talking extreme cases, like the new employee who was fooling around with the defibrillator and shocked another employee or the guy who somehow managed to bring up Media on the classroom computers.

You may have a few minutes in the NICU on your first day to meet your manager, get assigned a locker, be introduced to preceptors (maybe your preceptors will be working and you'll get to meet them, maybe you'll just get a name) and see your schedule. You'll probably get a tour of the hospital, be photographed for your hospital ID and get a parking permit, mass transit pass or find out where to keep your bicycle while you're working.

Congratulations on your graduation, licensure and new job. I'd tell you not to be nervous, but you wouldn't believe me.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 16, 2017

I meant to put this in my original long winded reply, but forgot.

Nobody expects you to know anything on your first day except your name, address and social security number. Really. We can teach you to take care of the patients; we're just hoping you're a good employee and coworker. We're not looking for brilliant nursing assessments or problem-solving skills your first week. We just want you to be someone we want to get to know and to work with.

chloejean104 · Jul 16, 2017

Thanks Ruby!!

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2017

I'll also add that you should wait before buying a stethoscope -- in every unit I've worked in, every baby had their own individual stethoscope at their bedsides to decrease the possibility of transmitting something from baby to baby. Save your money until you know if you need one or not!

Jolie, BSN · Jul 17, 2017

I trust that your first day of NICU nursing went better than mine 31 years ago.

I was sooooo nervous about commuting into Big City for the first time that I hardly slept and skipped breakfast. By noon I had a horrible migraine, and afraid of taking effective medication or even letting my preceptor know I was feeling ill, I decided to just tough it out.

I nibbled on my lunch in the hopes it would help me feel better. Not so much. I ended up tying up the only restroom in a 50-bed unit with an episode of vomiting. I have never consumed Diet Pepsi or grape jelly since.

My career had nowhere to go but up from that point :)

NicuNurseD · Jul 18, 2017

Congrats on your new job!

To add to the previous replies that have been quite thorough--bring a teachable, open mind on your first day. If your unit is anything like mine, your training will be a few months long with your preceptor, so take this opportunity to learn as much as you can with the safety net of having that mentor with you during the entire shift.

A little bit of nerves is healthy. I'd be more worried if you felt no anxiety at all. Just remember that if you are unsure of anything, ASK. NICU nursing is challenging but such an amazing and fulfilling job. I am happy you are going to be part of it!

Best of luck to you!

prmenrs, RN · Jul 19, 2017

Orientation the first week usually pertains to adults more than NICU. You may be bummed, but, play nice and act like you're fascinated! @one of my orientation, I was shown pictures of adult scenarios, like an infiltrated IV. I gave a smart aleck answer, and never heard the end of it. I still got the answer right, they just didn't appreciate my sparkling wit.