NICU nursing vs postpartum

[berthajones]

I graduated nursing school a year ago and went straight into PP. I love my job. I work nights which I hate but I'm willing to do it for a job I love. I work at a good hospital with great benefits and a pension plan, but I got a job offer to work in the NICU in NYC. The job pays a little more (but cost of living is more in NYC) and the job is still nights. Theres no pension but the job pays for grad school in full. If it was a PP job I would probably take it in a second, but since it's NICU im really nervous. Anyone go from PP to NICU and really love it? or hate it? What do you think is a better job? Also kind of nervous about moving to the big city. Not sure if i'll like the hustle and bustle. any advice would be great

[R1515J]

I can't speak to have gone from PP to NICU, as NICU is 100% of my nursing experience, but I have precepted a couple of nurses who can from PP into our level III NICU and both have done very well. I think if you have a strong foundation for normal newborn assessment and what is "right" then you will probably do ok. You'll have the maternal history, too which I think helps see the big picture too. Good luck!

[Seas]

I went to NICU after pp (mother/baby actually), and I would never go back to pp. But everybody is different. Most pp nurses I worked with disliked and was absolutely not interested in nicu. It is okay to just want to work pp. If you aren't interested to change your specialty, dont change it. From my experience a person can't love both pp and nicu; it is one or the other. Lol. Because there areas are very different from each other in many aspects.

[Janetnzrn]

I went from L&D/PP to NICU and loved the change. It depends on your comfort level with technology (I think) lots more monitoring and assessments, more control of your environment, different interactions with mothers, lots of teaching. You need strong skills in lactation, nursing a sick or premature infant is different. I've grown to especially love the ELBW infants. I'm glad I made the change but NYC is another question altogether!

[rnkaytee]

I don't know since I've only ever worked NICU but I sure would live in NYC if I had the chance! What a great opportunity!

[seasidesoul]

NICU plus NYC is basically my dream come true... Did you apply for this job? I'm assuming so since you received a job offer, but why apply if you're so happy with your current situation?

[Casey, RN]

I went from mother/baby to NICU and I'm so glad I did. I LOVED being a mother/baby nurse and I do miss parts of it, but I really like the NICU. I like taking care of sick babies and seeing them improve, grow, and go home. I also like getting to know the families over a long period of time.

It's definitely been an adjustment and I've had to re-learn so much that I forgot after working in mother/baby straight out of nursing school. There is definitely more critical thinking involved and it's been challenging. The one thing I will say about switching - I do not like the feeling of not knowing my job well, yet. I went from being a very knowledgable, proficient mother/baby nurse to feeling like a brand new nurse again.

I say, go for it! If you end up not liking the NICU, you can always go back to postpartum. You may not have another opportunity to get into the NICU if you pass this one up. I suppose it depends on where you live or where you are willing to move, but it can be very difficult to get into the NICU. I feel like you'll never know if you dont' try. You might even be able to float to a postpartum unit while working in the NICU.

Good luck with whatever you decide :-)

[RN-BSN2011]

I am currently working NICU level 4. Though I enjoy providing comfort and care to preemies and there families, I am not a NICU nurse. Berthajones, makes sure when you make the transition ask questions such as ( how long is your orientation, patient ratio, your support network etc.) All the best and hope you get your dream job!

[Efelliot81, BSN]

I went from PP to NICU after 7 years and don't regret the decision. Our NICU is a lot less chaotic than the PP unit. I was however precepted and worked in both units before transferring full time.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hi,

You may never know if you do not try. You could ask if you could shadow with a NICU nurse for a shift or two just to get some idea about what the day is like. Good luck!

Annie

[StillRN]

I went from NICU to pp cuz I needed day shift.. I learned to like it.. but would much rather do nicu!

[heathermartin94]

So I wanted to go off of this post because I have a similar question. I have received an offer for mother/baby as a new grad and I was wondering if this would be a good stepping stone in order to get into NICU. I don't really want to work in mother/baby but i am wiling to do it in order to get into NICU. Would you recommend going into postpartum right away after graduating?