Offered a student nurse externship in the NICU!

Published

Specializes in Adult Psychiatry, Correctional/Forensic Psychiatry.

Hello NICU nurses!

I was just offered a student nurse externship beginning in the summer, I am extremely excited about it and I accepted the offer immediately! It has been an interest for me to work in the NICU for a while! Usually when I bring up to my professors that I want to work in the NICU, they tell me that's great because there aren't too many males in that specialty. But anyway, I want to be prepared for the externship when it starts. Are there any tips that any of you can offer? Questions I should be asking? Things I should already know before I start? I really want to make a good impression because when I graduate next year, I really would like to work in the NICU. ANY help at all would be amazing! Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I'm a new grad nurse in the NICU. Although I'm not a male, I had a male preceptor for my 6 week-long senior clinical rotation in the NICU during my last semester of school. He is an awesome NICU nurse! As far as what you should know going in, I'd say relax and let them guide you when you get there. I feel like a portion of NICU is not about the protocols and skills, so great questions to ask might sound like "how do you handle it when..." Or "what do you say to parents when..." ...Discussing what you see as "judgement calls" from the nurses will help you to gain insight to develop your ability to think critically and eventually make those decisions on your own. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Welcome to the world of babies. We need more males in NICU. My advice is learn as much as you can and ask a lot of questions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's so exciting!! May I ask where your externship is at??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We treat our externs like a new grad orientee :) Good luck and we do need more guys! The dads in our unit love them!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Psychiatry, Correctional/Forensic Psychiatry.

Thank you guys! I really appreciate the replies! 🙂

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Psychiatry, Correctional/Forensic Psychiatry.
That's so exciting!! May I ask where your externship is at??

Mercy Medical Center

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Psychiatry, Correctional/Forensic Psychiatry.
Welcome to the world of babies. We need more males in NICU. My advice is learn as much as you can and ask a lot of questions.

Thank you! Do you think I should buy a guide or a book on neonatal nursing so I can have an idea of what happens in the NICU before I start? Even though they are going to be teaching me, I just want to be prepared when I start. I want to have a good background of information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion