What have you done besides NICU?

[2curlygirls]

I started in NICU as a new grad. I did my senior preceptor-ship in post partum and well baby (knew I didn't want to do that forever!)

I'm having to do much soul searching about what to do with my career at this point with 2 wee girls at home. I'm trying to explore all other options.

[prmenrs, RN]

Gen'l Surg floor, CCU, Cardiac/renal transplant/gen'l surgery ICU, NICU, Infection Control Nurse, Night "Clinical" supervisor, NICU. All the above @ the same hospital over 34 years.

Now doing Level 2 NICU in a community hospital.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

NICU, prn in PICU, tried the ED, went back to NICU/PICU

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Stepdown, cardiac telemetry, and med/surg. I still have bad dreams that "they" are making me go back. I could live with it but it would make me very sad.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

I'm a midwife, worked in a team covering L&D, post&ante-natal, and community, clinics etc. Have been in the NICU for >6 years, would never go back to team midwifery, don't miss L&D at all! Give me our tiny babes anyday!!!:monkeydance:

[Jolie, BSN]

Started in the NICU, and worked there for 5 years. Had a brief "crisis" when I feared that I was "losing all of my adult skills", so I went to an LDRP setting. At least I was smart enough to realize that I didn't want to stray too far from the NICU :) I enjoyed LDRP, but never quite found the same comfort level that I had in the NICU, so when hubby was transferred to a new city, I found a job back in the NICU. The LDRP experience was tremendously valuable though, and I loved the mother-baby aspect of it.

[cocco]

med-surg

[cathys01]

Started new job in CVICU last week - starting on the unit next week (first two weeks are hospital and nursing orientation)...

I'm staying PRN in the NICU though, don't want to completely leave the wee ones...

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Started new job in CVICU last week - starting on the unit next week (first two weeks are hospital and nursing orientation)...

Good luck, Cathy!

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I worked as a CNA on the float pool at one hospital - spent time on all the adult floors, mainly ortho-rehab and med-surg. I have to admit...I hated every single moment of it. With every bedpan that I emptied, every brief that I changed, every pain in my back...all I could think was, "I can't wait until I graduate from college and can work in the NICU." :imbar

I tried, I really did. But after a year, I had to get out. I went to work at a children's hospital in the NICU. I had very little patient contact as a CNA in this NICU, but I didn't care. I just knew it was where I belonged.

I fully admit that I have lost all my adult skills and knowledge, though. I'm okay with that - I can't imagine ever leaving the NICU for another type of nursing - but if you want to experience other things at some point, then it might be a good idea to get some adult experience before getting caught in the NICU trap. I know a few nurses who left the NICU for other things, and the ones who are happy with their new jobs either left to work nice hours in a doctor's office or went to adult ICU.

[neonatal_icu_rn]

NA in LTC while in school. Cardiac stepdown, adult psychiatric, postpartem. Do some well baby and pediatrics now. But, my worst day in NICU is far better than my best day in any of those areas. I looove my babies!!!!!

[Mags4711, RN]

I started in peds, PICU, Trauma/Burn ICU, then to NICU. I've loved it all.