NICU mom to NICU nurse?

[xokw, BSN, RN]

Hello there, long time no post! I have a doozy of a question!

For the longest time as a nurse I have had no idea what I actually wanted to do career wise. I became an RPN, went back for my BScN, and always assumed that throughout the years of schooling eventually I would gain some practicum experience that would really "speak" to me and push me towards my calling. It didn't happen. I have experience as an RPN in LTC, community, and med/surg nursing, and have done placements in med/surg, palliative, emergency, psychiatric and public health nursing. Still nothing.

Then, last year my son was born prematurely and spent some time in the hospital (level 3 NICU, then level 2 NICU, then SCN), in total about 6 weeks. Since my experience, and as I prepare to return to work, I can't shake this feeling that I am being drawn towards NICU nursing. I've never wanted to work with babies, or parents, or children of any kind to be honest (hence the lack of placements in those areas, it was NEVER an interest of mine), but it's as if something in me has changed.

So here's my question - Have any NICU moms (or dads!) successfully transitioned into NICU nursing? Is this even possible with the emotional piece involved? Do you personally know any NICU RNs who previously had a child or children who spent time in the NICU? I'd love to hear (and not just personal opinions telling me what a bad idea it would be, but actual experiences or experiences of someone you may know).

[Fiona59]

I've worked with someone who went into nursing because of her time spent in NICU with her babe. After her practicums there, she realized she was a general surgery lover.

She said it was the parents that got to her.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

I am a NICU nurse. My coworker had her daughter in my NICU for 3 months, which prompted her to become a nurse and now she works there. She loves it. It really depends on on the person. Some nicu parents have PTSD and could never walk into a NICU again. If you have the passion for it then I say go for it.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

My hat's off to you if you can do this. My son was born last October and spent a mere three nights in the NICU, but I would be more than happy if I never again set foot in one.

We need wonderful NICU nurses, I just know that I could not personally work there after being a NICU mom.

I don't want to discourage you! I'm sure I'm in the minority.

[xokw, BSN, RN]

Congratulations on the birth of your son! The NICU is certainly not a nice place to be when you are on that end of things, but I feel so fortunate regardless. My son was born last fall as well and spent about 3.5 weeks in a level 3 NICU, then transferred to a more local hospital with a level 2, then more local again to a hospital with a special care nursery for his final week. I understand what you mean about never wanting to go back, and I won't deny that it took a solid 7 months after the fact to really begin coping with and healing from the experience. Being on the parent end of things gave me so much perspective and appreciation for this profession that I never had before and I've often wondered if maybe this was the Universe's way of pushing me towards my calling. I guess we will see!

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I am a NICU nurse. My coworker had her daughter in my NICU for 3 months, which prompted her to become a nurse and now she works there. She loves it. It really depends on on the person. Some nicu parents have PTSD and could never walk into a NICU again. If you have the passion for it then I say go for it.

Thanks for sharing, that's great to hear! I took an extended maternity leave to finish my BScN (we were supposed to be in the same graduating year if I remember correctly? I got really sick and ended up off for a little while!) so I have some time to figure out where I want to go with things but I know obviously it's probably hard to get into the NICU as a new grad RN. In terms of education and aside from neonatal resusc., what would you recommend taking?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I went into nursing specifically so I could work PICU. Long before I went to nursing school, my son (now 35) was born with a congenital heart anomaly and had surgery to repair it on his second day of life. He spent some time in NICU and I always thought that was where my heart would take me. Until he spent 7 weeks in PICU. When I graduated the only hospital job I even had an interview for was with an intermediate care nursery, so I jumped on it. The learning was interesting at the beginning, but I soon found the routine-ness of it became less and less inspiring. It took me 2 years to get my foot in the door of the PICU and that's where I've stayed for the last 21 years. I think you would bring a welcome perspective to the job in NICU and would have sensitivities to some things other nurses wouldn't even understand. As long as you don't fall into the trap of comparing your patients to your son all the time, you should be fine. There will be moments when it's right to share your story with parents, and many more moments when it won't. Seek the wisdom to know which is which.

When you're ready to apply on vacancies in your local NICU, start reviewing the usual reasons for admission to an NICU so that you'll have answers for those clinical questions. Know the more common complications of prematurity in depth. Know something about infants of diabetic mothers, and causes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Know something about the other reasons for admission - the area where I worked in IMCN had a lot of substance abusers, so one of the things we saw a lot of was neonatal abstinence syndrome. That kind of knowledge will make you stand out in an interview. Good luck!

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing, that's great to hear! I took an extended maternity leave to finish my BScN (we were supposed to be in the same graduating year if I remember correctly? I got really sick and ended up off for a little while!) so I have some time to figure out where I want to go with things but I know obviously it's probably hard to get into the NICU as a new grad RN. In terms of education and aside from neonatal resusc., what would you recommend taking?

I remember - you were Conestoga right? It isn't as hard as you would think...depending on the NICU. Many NICUs are very overloaded right now with high acuity. I got hired as a new grad, as did many others. My NICU is frequently hiring due to such a large staff, we have a pretty high turn over due to the acuity. I began the advanced neonatal course at Mohawk the year before I graduated so I was mostly finished it by the time I applied. You have to at least be working on it to get hired...so I would get going on that. George Brown also does the neonatal course and from what I've heard it's better. Good luck!

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I remember - you were Conestoga right? It isn't as hard as you would think...depending on the NICU. Many NICUs are very overloaded right now with high acuity. I got hired as a new grad, as did many others. My NICU is frequently hiring due to such a large staff, we have a pretty high turn over due to the acuity. I began the advanced neonatal course at Mohawk the year before I graduated so I was mostly finished it by the time I applied. You have to at least be working on it to get hired...so I would get going on that. George Brown also does the neonatal course and from what I've heard it's better. Good luck!

That's great, thanks! Good for you for even starting that during the program, no easy task that's for sure! Based on your geographic location, which I can only assume because I know where you completed the bridging program, I imagine you actually might work in the NICU where my son spent his first few weeks. Small world!

[jennylee321]

Yes I work with a couple NICU mums turned NICU nurses, they enjoy it and I notice they relate to parents very well.