NICU career path

ToughingItOut · Mar 17, 2012

Honestly, the moment I stepped into the NICU as a nursing student and saw the glow of those big blue lights, I just knew. There's a kind of magic to the NICU. Meanwhile, I pretty much hated all my other clinical experiences, lol. I enjoyed learning about adult illness in textbooks but not so much dealing with it in person... I cannot tell you how relieved I was to find the NICU. Good luck! I know you'll find your magic specialty too. :)

finnmackenzie · Apr 8, 2012

I was wondering this too. I had heard to start in med/surg. (Did that) I currently work in the ICU and was wondering what would be more beneficial changing to a labor and delivery department or staying in the adult ICU if eventually my goal is to become a NICU nurse?

Hi! I am a nursing student in a BSN program. I am still trying to find out what specialty I am interested in and after a year of nursing school I think i am interested in the NICU. I am just wondering if there are any NICU nurses who would be willing to share why they went into this specialty. Thanks!!

dixRN · Apr 9, 2012

Finnmackenzie,

If you can switch to L&D do so. You will be helping with the delivery of infants & that is much closer to NICU than adult ICU. See any newborns there? You will take NRP & probably have access to NICU classes such as STABLE, which you should take if you can. You will also get to know the NICU nurses that attend hi risk deliveries. You should make a point to get to know them. Make yourself known to the NICU nurse manager & when a NICU position comes available you will know about it right away & have positioned yourself for it. I don't think you could do that from adult ICU.