NICU dislikes

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I am a nursing student and seriously considering working in the NICU someday. I always hear all the wonderful reasons people love working in the NICU, but I am curious about what people do NOT like about working in the NICU. I appreciate all your replies.

Just wanted to say thanks for all of this I am going to be a new NICU nurse next month and I am enjoying reading all this stuff. I am trying to prepare myself for the good and the bad. this is something that I have wanted to do since I was a child and I am so glad I found this site. thanks Steph

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Parents who dont communicate with each other so one calls then 15 - 20 minutes later the other calls...usually at hands on time.

Parents who think they should dictate who their baby's nurse will be.

Doctors who want to do unnecessary painful procedures.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

I just have one little comment:

Mom looks at the nurse and in a very accusing tone states "You bagged my baby!!" The nurse appropriately responds back "Would you rather I NOT have bagged him?".
While I understand why she might have said that, I don't think it was the appropriate response because it validates and continues the mother's adversarial relationship with the nurses. JMO.
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I just have one little comment:

While I understand why she might have said that, I don't think it was the appropriate response because it validates and continues the mother's adversarial relationship with the nurses. JMO.

OT, but I struggle with this at work. I never say harsh things like that to parents, but sometimes I think they need it. I only say this because I have seen other "harsher" nurses finally say something like that and then the families realize they are being inappropriate and get back in control of their emotions. Those comments are not even necessarily harsh since it could be said very nicely like "Yes, I bagged your baby. What would you have wanted me to do differently?".

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Those comments are not even necessarily harsh since it could be said very nicely like "Yes, I bagged your baby. What would you have wanted me to do differently?".

Maybe I'm missing something here, but what could have been done differently? Did she not want her baby resusitated via bagging? What her problem with the bagging? Just curious. Interesting answers everyone.

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Maybe I'm missing something here, but what could have been done differently? Did she not want her baby resusitated via bagging? What her problem with the bagging? Just curious. Interesting answers everyone.

That's exactly the point, there was no other option for the nurse. When someone is complaining about something and then they realize that there was no other option, they suddenly realize that their complaint is stupid.

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That's exactly the point, there was no other option for the nurse. When someone is complaining about something and then they realize that there was no other option, they suddenly realize that their complaint is stupid.

Yeah, I didn't think that there would be another way to resuscitate a baby without bagging. I was wondering if there was another procedure I hadn't heard of to help the baby "breathe" (one of the ABC's I will learn :)) during a code.

Thanks for your help, Fergus! :)

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Parents who don't listen AND nurses who don't explain things clearly and consistently.

Yesterday I got report on one of my babies. The nurse told me that the 16 y.o. mother was in during the day. She very pleasantly told the nurse that since her baby now weighed 1700 gm, she was going to go ahead and take her home right then. Oblivious to the fact the baby was still in an isolette and bolus feeding with attempts at PO, she remembered way back 6 weeks ago that baby's nurse said she could go home at that weight. What she didn't remember is all the other criteria for discharge that was discussed (hopefully) at birth. Most of our nurses do an excellent job of this, but there are a few...... Well, there was much wailing & gnashing until she finally realized her baby just wasn't ready to go home. It was kind of humerous, but at the same time frustrating that so much of what we say just doesn't register. Needless to say, mom wasn't really ready to take her baby home anyway-she brought no car seat or clothes on this visit.

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Parents who don't listen AND nurses who don't explain things clearly and consistently.

Yesterday I got report on one of my babies. The nurse told me that the 16 y.o. mother was in during the day. She very pleasantly told the nurse that since her baby now weighed 1700 gm, she was going to go ahead and take her home right then. Oblivious to the fact the baby was still in an isolette and bolus feeding with attempts at PO, she remembered way back 6 weeks ago that baby's nurse said she could go home at that weight. What she didn't remember is all the other criteria for discharge that was discussed (hopefully) at birth. Most of our nurses do an excellent job of this, but there are a few...... Well, there was much wailing & gnashing until she finally realized her baby just wasn't ready to go home. It was kind of humerous, but at the same time frustrating that so much of what we say just doesn't register. Needless to say, mom wasn't really ready to take her baby home anyway-she brought no car seat or clothes on this visit.

My opinion: A 16-year-old will NEVER be ready to take her baby home! That's what would break my heart: Letting babies go home to parents/homes that I know aren't suitable.

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kes,

I noticed you are from the chicago area. At NCH in Arlington Heights, we have a NICU internship that lasts a year. This hospital is a Level II with expanded capabilities, probably moving towards Level III in the future. I don't think we have any internships currently available, but check for the future. Jody

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