NICU Dad to NICU Nurse

A short excerpt about why I chose to become a nurse and why I am passionate about neonates and their families! My own child was in the NICU 10 years ago and that experience propelled me into the world of nursing. I am grateful for my experiences thus far and I look forward to many more. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

NICU Dad to NICU Nurse

One of the main catalysts leading me to pursue neonatal nursing was my own experience as the parent of a child in the NICU. Having a child in the NICU was an extremely vulnerable and terrifying experience that forever changed me as both a person and as a father.

I have never felt more helpless than during the times in the NICU when I was holding my son. I did not understand the monitors and alarms, I was afraid to hold him, and I knew there was nothing I could do to help. He was at the mercy of the nurses and doctors and all I could do was wait.

The kindness and consideration of the nurses helped me to get through the experience and gave me the strength I needed to be a support to my family. They answered all of my questions and took the time to explain the "what and why" behind their actions.

The nurses also included me in his care and showed me compassion and concern rather than just focusing on my son. Their actions during the care of my son compelled me to pursue nursing as a career and to spend my life caring for others.

There are many people who enter nursing school - or even nursing positions - who don't know what type of nursing they are passionate about. Often they have experiences that help shape their preferences and direct them toward a specific specialty however; far less frequently do they know before beginning their journey.

My life experiences directed me to pursue nursing as a career and even before I began school, I knew I wanted to serve in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). My desire gained strength throughout my clinical experiences and my senior preceptorship in a level III NICU caring for critically ill infants.

There were also many confirmations from nurses whom I worked alongside and from professors who saw the passion and affinity I had for working with infants and families. For the first time in my life I finally understood what my purpose was; to be a NICU nurse.

As I began to pursue nursing it became clear to me that my time as a NICU parent could be used to benefit others that I cared for as a nurse. Combining my experience as a NICU parent with the education I received as a nurse, provided me the ability to view every situation from both the patient side as well as the nursing side. It allowed me to address needs of family members and answer their questions with greater empathy and understanding. I was able to read non-verbal cues accurately and attend to unspoken requests. Through my experiences thus far, I have found that there is no greater joy for me then to spend myself for the betterment of others. And that joy is exponentially greater when I am caring for newborns and their families. I am so blessed to call myself a nurse and to have the privilege to make a difference in other people's lives every day.

Aaron RN, BSN

VintageSwagger

About VintageSwagger

VintageSwagger has 4 years experience and works as an RN - NICU IV.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wonderful and inspiring story. Thank you so much for sharing.

Just this morning, someone also sent me this link - an NICU dad's wonderful video record of a very preemie's journey BenjaminScot on Vimeo. Get a hanky before you watch it.

Great read, Aaron.

I'm a former NICU dad... and peds-floor dad... and PICU dad...

My NICU experience also led me to nursing school and I was blessed beyond measure to do my final semester precepting in the same NICU where my kid got started... and worked with many of the nurses that I remembered... it was awesome.

For me, my nursing journey has led me into the ED but I hold the good NICU and PICU nurses in the very highest esteem... and I think that any nurse who's been on the other side of the bedrails... or isolette... is the better for it.

Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.

I was half way through nursing school when my two year old daughter fell out of a two story window, shattering her skull like an eggshell. A MediVac flight and five days in PICU convinced me that I could never work in pediatrics, it is simply too heartbreaking. However, for those nurses who can, I give the ultimate Thumbs Up. The nurses who treated my daughter were the most professional, and the most highly trained, that I have ever seen. My daughter recovered with no lingering effects and is now a vibrant, beautiful, and intelligent nine-year-old. Sometimes, when I watch her sleep, my mind slips back to those five days in th PICU and I shudder. And, I suspect, that I will never truly get over it. I also know that I will never forget the PICU nurses who cared for my little angel.

Incredible story. I look forward to soon joining the ranks of all the incredible NICU nurses on AN: Bortaz, NicuGal, prmenrs, HyperSaurus, and you, VintageSwagger. All the best to you! Keep us here on AN up to date!

I'm a former NICU dad too. I've been a nurse for a number of years but it wasn't until my son was there that I discovered the NICU was the place for me. He's almost two now and doing great and I finally found a nursing job I love !