New Specialty advice

ChryssyD · Jul 20, 2017

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I'll put in my two cents. I went from over 15 years in peds and peds ICU/sub-acute to adult sub-acute, then adult psych. I get why you might have some anxiety--switching specialties is always challenging, but some switches are more challenging than others.

NICU is a very narrow and specific specialty--you will deal with conditions and diseases you never, ever see past a certain age. Adult med-surg is a good, broad area that prepares you well for all kinds of specialties...except NICU. It's a completely different planet. I have no reason to believe you can't switch to NICU, but just be aware that you will be starting from scratch. Your prior experience in adult med-surg is only useful in terms of nursing process, time management, etc...because with neonates EVERYTHING is completely different; vital signs, drugs, drug dosages, common conditions, use of equipment, psychosocial issues, etc.. I admire your desire to enter the wonderful and wild world of NICU, but most people will probably advise you to try regular nursery first. Apart from the strictly medical issues, working with neonates and children is uniquely stressful--just because of the crying. Some people can't handle constant exposure to wailing infants...which is completely understandable. And if you aren't into family relations, forget it--much of your job in neonatal and pediatric nursing is dealing with, comforting, teaching, and counselling the family. It can also be incredibly sad--people have all these hopes for the perfect baby, then something goes wrong and their whole world collapses onto their heads...it can really drain you. But NICU is a great place to work, very intense yet rewarding; too intense for me, I know, I have floated to NICU on occasion and I know it's not for me! But if you really feel drawn to it, I wish you nothing but the best. You CAN do it, just know that you will have to develop a completely new knowledge base and skill-set; but you can do it if it's what you really want. Best of luck to you--my hat is off to you, because NICU always intimidated me, but some people have the right stuff. You might be one of them! Best wishes!