SCHOOL PROJECT: What are the effects of being a neonatal nurse? Please Help

babyNP., APRN · Feb 22, 2014

I don't think I really understand your question...what do you mean? The effects of me being a NICU nurse? I get paid a good salary and I get to take care of babies, pretty great.

melissa15 · Feb 22, 2014

As in the mental effects, physical effects. The toll it takes of not knowing what's going to happen or if the babies don't make it

malestunurse · Feb 23, 2014

You need to formulate a proper question.

Navy1Nurse · Feb 23, 2014

We usually know what is going to happen.... The ones that make it that we thought wouldn't are the surprise not the ones that don't. I have never had a baby pass away that was a total surprise.

melissa15 · Feb 23, 2014

Okay, what are the physical, mental, and emotional effects that come with working in the NICU. I did research and I read that the stress level can be pretty high and emotions can be everywhere. That's why I wanted some personal input. Stories of good and bad. The emotions things like that.

NICU_Nurse_3986 · Feb 27, 2014

This post has some discusses some NICU experiences https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/whats-your-nicu-896058.html

katierobin23 · Feb 27, 2014

We usually know what is going to happen.... The ones that make it that we thought wouldn't are the surprise not the ones that don't. I have never had a baby pass away that was a total surprise.

You're lucky. One of the hardest things about working in NICU is the unexpected deaths. It's usually rapid onset sepsis or NEC, but it is very possible for a baby to go from fine (room air, eating everything from a bottle etc) to dead in less than 24 hours. Those times it happens, it is very hard to not beat yourself up if you had the baby before they got sick, wondering if there was anything at all that you could have done or if there were any subtle signs that were missed.