Newborn Nursery to prepare for NICU?

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

The nursery administrator at my clinical site has recommended to me that I precept in newborn nursery before jumping into NICU, with the implication being that it's good to become familiar with a normal baby before you start dealing with the complicated ones.

Is this good advice? Would you NICU nurses recommend a new nurse to grab some NN experience before trying to orient to NICU?

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Specializes in NICU.

I think the first question to ask would be if you would rather be in a level II or level III nicu? I think it would be much more beneficial if you want to do level II (feeders/growers) because you'll already be comfortable with parents, baths and weights, feeding, discharge info and state screens! Not that we don't do that stuff in level III because we do, but the emphasis is more on getting the sick kid better if that makes sense. How long would your preceptorship be in the newborn nursery? I think it would help tremendously if you want to do level II, but more than a month or two probably wouldn't be as beneficial if you are more of a level III person IMO.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
I think the first question to ask would be if you would rather be in a level II or level III nicu? I think it would be much more beneficial if you want to do level II (feeders/growers) because you'll already be comfortable with parents, baths and weights, feeding, discharge info and state screens! Not that we don't do that stuff in level III because we do, but the emphasis is more on getting the sick kid better if that makes sense. How long would your preceptorship be in the newborn nursery? I think it would help tremendously if you want to do level II, but more than a month or two probably wouldn't be as beneficial if you are more of a level III person IMO.

It'll be 160 hours. One benefit of doing it in the nursery is that, in case of not being able to get a job in NICU right out of school, I'd at least have some practical experience in newborn nursery. Of course, doing it in the NICU would be great.

While my true goal is to work Lever III NICU, I also enjoy the fat, healthy babies.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Is this a "capstone" to complete your nursing education program? If so, it beats the heck out of med-surg in terms of preparation for your first RN job in maternal child health.

Go for it! As a student, your independent practice would be limited in the NICU. In the well-baby nursery, you would be able to function much more independently.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Is this a "capstone" to complete your nursing education program? If so, it beats the heck out of med-surg in terms of preparation for your first RN job in maternal child health.

Go for it! As a student, your independent practice would be limited in the NICU. In the well-baby nursery, you would be able to function much more independently.

Yes, it's the capstone we have to do at the end of the last semester of the program...160 hours working with a preceptor, prior to graduation.

And you've brought up a very valid point: What I would and I would NOT be allowed to do in the two areas. You're right that I'd be very limited in NICU, probably to the point of it being more shadowing than anything.

Thanks for your great insight...I now need to start wrapping my brain around well-baby nursery!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
Yes, it's the capstone we have to do at the end of the last semester of the program...160 hours working with a preceptor, prior to graduation.

And you've brought up a very valid point: What I would and I would NOT be allowed to do in the two areas. You're right that I'd be very limited in NICU, probably to the point of it being more shadowing than anything.

Thanks for your great insight...I now need to start wrapping my brain around well-baby nursery!

i don't think that's true. i did my capstone-like course in a level III NICU and i did pretty much everything the RN could do, as long as i was under her supervision.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Arrrrh, just when I thought I had it figured out: A dissenting opinion! :)

When you did your OB clinical rotation, were you allowed to perform any procedures in NICU? Or was it just the capstone where you were allowed more reign?

Thanks for your input!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
Arrrrh, just when I thought I had it figured out: A dissenting opinion! :)

When you did your OB clinical rotation, were you allowed to perform any procedures in NICU? Or was it just the capstone where you were allowed more reign?

Thanks for your input!

Nope, we weren't even allowed to go in the NICU during OB. We did ONE day in NBN for OB but otherwise rotated from antepartum, ld, and postpartum, and then antepartum testing.

it was just the capstone and only one other student and i from the whole school got to do it in NICU. if you can take it, i'd jump all over that because it's pretty rare.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Hmm, interesting. Looks like I need to go ask them what I'd be allowed to do if I precept there...

Thanks again!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
The nursery administrator at my clinical site has recommended to me that I precept in newborn nursery before jumping into NICU, with the implication being that it's good to become familiar with a normal baby before you start dealing with the complicated ones.

Is this good advice? Would you NICU nurses recommend a new nurse to grab some NN experience before trying to orient to NICU?

FYI, it's pretty easy to differentiate a well from sick baby. I'd find something online about assessment of the healthy newborn and read over that.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

redefinition has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space.

SO,

Houston is a strong candidate for us, because we're both fanatics about Astros baseball. :)

I'm hoping for a residency or internship, though, and with the UTMB problems in Galveston, I've heard most of the hospitals in Houston are cutting out their GN hirings in order to place the displaced UTMB nurses. We're planning to go to Houston to look around a few of the hospitals in December, when I'm out on Christmas break.

Austin is the leader for us, because our beautiful grandkids are in San Antonio. :)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

ack, sorry about that, i just cleared them out.

austin is gorgeous. i almost set up an interview there, but realized i wanted to stay in houston because most of my family and friends are here.

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