NICU question

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

My question is would my PDN vent experience for an older patient be enough vent experience to work in the NICU?

Thanks!

[prmenrs, RN]

I moved it to NICU. You may have problems getting into a NICU if you are an LVN. Most seem to want RN. If you did get hired, I don't think as an LVN you would work w/vent pts. You would be more likely to work in a Level 2 area--feeders and growers.

I'd suggest you check out the job market where you plan on working. Good luck!

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

I moved it to NICU. You may have problems getting into a NICU if you are an LVN. Most seem to want RN. If you did get hired, I don't think as an LVN you would work w/vent pts. You would be more likely to work in a Level 2 area--feeders and growers.

I'd suggest you check out the job market where you plan on working. Good luck!

Thank you, this is for after I finish my BSN. (9 more months.)

[prmenrs, RN]

In that case, you will want to look for a new grad program. That will orient you to the specialty. You graduate as a "generalist", so specialized units like NICU don't expect you to know too much! Orientation will take weeks to months depending on the facility!

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

In that case, you will want to look for a new grad program. That will orient you to the specialty. You graduate as a "generalist", so specialized units like NICU don't expect you to know too much! Orientation will take weeks to months depending on the facility!

Yes, I know that, too. I have a few programs in mind. I was just wondering if the vent for a baby is any different than a vent for an adult.

[prmenrs, RN]

Yes they are.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

Yes they are.

I thought so. Thanks!

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

VERY different, not only because the patients are smaller, their lung compliance is different, their lung diseases are different, the vents themselves are different, the different modes of ventilation are different, and you will have patients on much higher vent settings than one could ever be at home on. Also most patients at home on a vent are typically stable enough to be disconected briefly, have a short lag in suctioning time, get a drop of water down the tube, babies, and especially preemies will not tolerate those situations, they will desat, brady and code if you don't get that little bit of mucous out quickly and efficiently

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I had previous adult experience with more stable but in-hospital. I was shocked at how different vents were for infants. The biggest difference was the instability of the airway. Most of my adult patients were trach'd and the intubated ones were generally DNR and comatose. Most infants (all in our unit) use the uncuffed tubes and though we try to keep it to a minimum, it's not that unusual for them to unintentionally extubate.

The vent settings were kind of different also (not even going to address high frequency). Interesting thing is that in the last year, we have started to transition to "volume guarantee ventilation" and the vent settings now are very similar to what we used for adults in that they consist of a tidal volume, set rate, pressure support, PEEP and FiO2. The ventilation mode we used to use we would have a rate, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), PEEP, sometimes pressure support and FiO2.

After working with several types of vents, I really understand ventilators much better and the whole idea of positive pressure ventilation.