NICU Job satisfaction?

[carlajane2]

I'm turning 40 this summer and my background is in administration, but I've been considering going to nursing school since my first child was born a few years ago because I've grown so weary of feeling like I'm not doing anything that matters. Pushing paper, sitting through pointless meetings, working on projects that don't seem to contribute anything to anyone, all in the name of XYZ company trying to make a buck. No warm fuzzies anywhere in that, not even philosophically. After my second child was born last year, my husband and I decided I should take that plunge and I will start my prerequisites this year.

For the first time since making this decision, I'm feeling discouraged about it. I've been lurking these boards for years, all along trying to be objective about all the "noise" out there regarding how difficult/ thankless/ understaffed/ lacking respect/ (fill in the blank) being a nurse can be. I've read scores, perhaps hundreds, of accounts of nurses who hate their jobs and have come to hate the profession. Even those who are in it for the right reasons and have realistic expectations seem to end up clinging to some shred of why they went into the profession in the first place. But I've also worked in enough other fields to realize that there are elements of that in every job, and I know negativity and dissatisfaction feeds on itself.

NICU nursing is the only specialty I've even considered. It's what made me want to go to nursing school and it's the only path I have any interest in ultimately. I realize that during clinicals I could be led a different way, but at this moment, my goal is to become a NICU nurse. I'm drawn to caring for a little human who has no history and no voice, someone who hasn't been killing themselves for 20 years with cigarettes and French fries and then wanting the doctors to fix the lung cancer and heart disease, someone who didn't ask for any of what's happening to them. I've considered things like whether my squeamish side will be able to handle nursing, and whether my compassionate side will be able to handle taking care of dying babies. I don't have any Florence Nightengale illusions, but did decide that I think I can handle those parts.

But a post on one of the other boards has finally given me pause. Maybe you read it -- it was a question about whether you would recommend nursing to someone, and it was downright scary. Practically NO ONE would.

My question is this: there doesn't seem to be as much of that on the NICU forum; in your opinion/experience, do NICU nurses, despite the intense technical and emotional demands, have more satisfaction in their jobs? Is it mainly floor nurses who have such intense dissatisfaction? I've been having visions of going through years of prereqs, nursing school, clinicals, training, sacrificing time with my family in search of a career where I could make about the same money but feel like I was doing something that mattered, only time say to myself, WHY DIDN'T I LISTEN TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME IT SUCKED? Please tell me that NICU nurses are a different breed.

[Humbled_Nurse]

I am a nurse that highly recommends the nursing profession. I think it is a great career. There is so much flexibility and opportunities. I have been a nurse for almost 11 years. I have mostly worked NICU. I have also worked pediatric neurology (outpatient). I started in the NICU as a new grad in a large Level III unit and I currently work part-time in a medium size Level III NICU that is 6 miles from my house. I am happy with the money I make and I love only working 2 days a week. I have a 19 month old so I feel like I have a great balance between being there for my son and my career. Also I don't fear being layed off. There is more security in the nursing profession.

NICU is a wonderful place to work. I would not work anywhere else. I have no desire to work in adult care. NICU for the most part has good nurse:patient ratios. There is just something about the NICU. I actually feel priveleged to work with the babies. I hear horror stories about med-surg regarding how many patients the nurses have to take. I coudn't even imagine.

With any profession there is always a downside. I will say that the first few years out of school were VERY STRESSFULL. It wasn't because I didn't feel supported or I didn't have a good orientation. Having peoples lives in your hands is just stressfull and there is so much to learn those first few years. The NICU can be a very intense place. Many of these babies are very sick and require very meticulous care. There were times when I considered quitting and doing something easier, but I hung in there and everything worked out.

In the nursing profession you will mostly be working with women and well sometimes that can be tough. It can take just a couple of arrogant, rude nurses to make your life miserable and some floors/units in the hospital can be very "clicky". If you find your niche and a good unit to work in you will probably be very happy.

I am very happy with my career choice. If I were you I would look into some shadowing opportunities at your local hospital so you can get an idea what you are getting into.

I say go for it. You will love it.

I really don't have anything to back this up, but I would have to agree that in general NICU nurses are happier than nurses in other areas.

I hope that helps.

[carlajane2]

Thank you, Humbled_Nurse, for your thoughtful response. It was reassuring! I inquired about shadowing at two different NICUs in my area, and both said they used to allow "civilians" to shadow, but HIPPA regs have made that no longer possible. They do allow nursing students to shadow, but that puts my cart before my horse, doesn't it? I experienced the NICU environment when my sister had a sick baby a few years ago, but other than that, I only know what I've read and what I've seen on documentary-type shows like "Special Delivery" (all of which I Tivo like an fiend). At some point, I suppose, it's a leap of faith that it will be a good fit for me.

[HappyBunnyNurse]

I too read that post and found it very distressing. I am new to nursing (6 months). Nursing is a second career for me (taught school for 6 years). I think the important factor in job satisfaction is finding your niche. I did not like adults and I think if I had done that for years I would have been miserable. NICU is a very special area. As far as regretting a career change only you can know for sure. If you don't try, you will never know.

[littleneoRN]

I think another thing to consider is variation from facility to facility and also region to region. I am fortunate to work in a part of the country with pretty high standards for healthcare and somewhat consequently I think a higher level of respect for nurses, better pay, and better working conditions as compared to some nurses other places. There is significant variation in pay, even considering local cost of living, and very different quality of working conditions. For example, I don't know any young nurses who have expressed negative feelings about the choice of nursing. I love my pick of nursing and wouldn't change it...I know I'm young, but I've been working long enough to be past the honeymoon period. There are a few more seasoned who do sometimes, but I think in any career there is an element of burnout. My nursing school friends mostly like their positions. But when I talk to people who work other places, responses vary more. So talk to people who work in your local area, especially in the NICU if that is your dream. Find out how they feel about their job. And don't settle for a position that doesn't fit your interests and lifestyle. Liking the work you do makes a big difference in how you process those rougher days. I'm excited about nursing and definitely encourage people to consider it...but only you can know the right decision for you!

[JulieNICURN]

I can't speak for anyone else, I have to say that I absolutely love my job as an NICU nurse!!! I feel it's a career that really suits me and I love it because it's challenging, exciting, rewarding, and there's always new things to learn, and even though I've only been practicing for two years, I feel that it's changed me and I've grown a lot, both professionally and personally. Oh yeah, and they pay me to do it - what a bonus! Don't tell my manager but I would do it for free!! haha.

Although, when people ask me if I think they should consider nursing, I always hesitate a little and tell them that it's a decision that only they can make but I am happy to answer any questions they have. My younger cousin came to me for advice related to switching into a nursing program (she was two years into a nutrition degree at the time and was having doubts), I wanted to tell her, "yes, do it! It's a lot of work but it's worth it in the end, you'll love it!!" but I held back and told her to think long and hard because it's a big decision, the program is challenging and the clinical placements aren't always enjoyable, and once you are in a BScN program, very few of the credits will transfer into any other program if you change your mind down the road! In the end, she chose to switch into nursing and is very happy about it!

So yeah, I think it's great that you want to try nursing because if it really is what you want to do you will love it and it truly is a rewarding career. However, keep in mind that there's a lot of work that goes along with it, it's an intense program, and it's not all fun and exciting learning cirriculum, there's a lot of theory, science courses, boring psych and research methods, etc. and you'll have some clinical placements that you will love and some that you will absolutely hate, but you have to suck it up and get through!

And just a reminder - NICU nursing is a specialty, it's not always easy to get in just because it's what you want to do. I worked for a year on an adult surgical floor before getting into NICU, and although I knew the adult world wasn't for me, I was still able to enjoy it. So if you can't entertain the idea of nursing adults you might want to think about the real reasons you want to go into nursing. I only say that because I don't want you to have unrealistic expectations, for example, sometimes when I tell "non-nurses" what I do and how I love my job, they say, "oh, no wonder you love it, you get to cuddle babies all day!..." and I'm like, "uhhh....not really." Don't get me wrong, we like to cuddle when we can, but that's not ALL we do!!!

So yes, I encourage you to consider nursing, but do your homework and be sure that the profession will be right for you in the end, and if it is then I promise it will be worth it!! I hope it all works out for you, no matter what you decide!

Good Luck!!!

[NICU Mama]

I would definately recommend nursing as a career. I listened to others when I was younger and did not go into nursing when I first thought of it. Instead I became a secretary and then real estate paralegal. I never felt any job satisfaction. When I was 28 I finally went to nursing school and became a nurse at 31 with my BSN. I am so happy I did it and never regret my choice. I only wish I did it sooner and followed my gut and not what others told me. I first did med/surg for 2 years, and it was ok. Then I had an experience in NICU, and I LOVE it! I feel like I make a real difference in a patient and family's life. It is very rewarding. I would'nt consider doing anything else. And like many others have said, nursing can be a very flexible career. There are so many options, I feel like the sky's the limit. And I like how I can work and have quality family time. It all works out great, in my opinion.

Good luck in your decision.

:)

NICU Mama

[NICURN29]

I am someone who came to nursing as a third career (tried out teaching and then working in the non-profit world first), and I think it was a great move for me. I also came out of school with my BSN and went right into the NICU...I was very fortunate that my unit was hiring GNs at the time.

One of the first things to think about is school. Nursing school is HARD. I went to a really highly rated college the first time around for a Biology and Education degree, and I thought it was really challenging. It was NOTHING compared to nursing school. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication just to make it through nursing school. There is no way I could have done it while working full-time (I worked part-time as a nurse's aide during school), and I am not sure how people who were married with children did it. I ended up moving back in with my parents (who were very generous to allow me to do so), and they gave me a lot of support throughout the journey. It is probably the most difficult thing I have ever done.

As for the actual nursing profession, it has its ups and downs, just like any other profession. There is a lot of administrative/bureaucratic stuff that can get tiring to deal with. There are sometimes people you work with that you don't get along with. There are patient stories that don't end well. There can be high-stress times, depending on the acuity of your patient. Sometimes the doctors are tough to deal with. Sometimes the families are tough to deal with. Sometimes the patients are tough to deal with.

However...

I would definitely recommend the nursing profession to someone who wants to get into a career where they can make a real difference. At the end of my shift, when I go home, I am generally exhausted, but I also usually feel a sense of satisfaction that I have done a hard job, have done that job well, and have made a difference. I also enjoy the teamwork aspect of the job and know that my coworkers and I can do anything together. There is nothing quite like being in the trenches, using every skill set you possess, fighting alongside your fellow nurses, as you fight to save a life. Luckily, it doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, I am reminded of why I do what I do.

Of course, you are going to come across those that you don't mesh with, and there are still some nurses out there who "eat their young." But if I had the choice to do it all over again, I would. And there is no place I would rather spend my work time than in the NICU.