TeachEmNursing

It's hard to get into NICU as an non-pediatric experienced nurse these days. If I were you I would do like someone said above and look into a fellowship or maybe shadow for a period of time if you have a NICU in your hospital. Speak with the managers or nurse educators candidly about your goals and try to build a rapport with them. Good luck to you.

Thank you for writing this. I am thinking of tutoring and this article has been very helpful.

Where I worked we used to do a little card for the parents with the foot prints or and whatever the volunteers made for the babies...usually a special knitted hat or a cute little t-shirt. Sometimes they would give small stuffed animals. I've never worked anywhere where we didn't have volunteers give something for us to pass along.

Sounds like my experience except i stayed for 2 years. I tried to help the students as much as possible (without doing the work for them). I only taught foundations clinical and subbed for a couple of pharmacology classes but I tried to give them advice on books to buy, different programs and ways to get more experience. I felt bad for them honestly....but my sanity prevailed and I had to leave the school. I would get out ASAP and try to find a job while you still have ppl there to give references.

It's funny how little boys hands always seem to find their way to their crotch. I noticed it really doesn't change as they get older. I'm always tickled when you take the feeder/growers (like the 1500gm or so)kids and put them on the scale. The way some of them give you that angry holler/cry/curse is sooooo cute. Thank goodness they can't speak because I'm certain they would be saying a few choice words to us.

That is a great idea! I have had the same problem in the past and i am always told to just let the student retake with no consequences.

These beds are awesome. I wish we had them where I work now

Oh gosh, I remember just having all these BPD kids...just fussin & huffin...they all had that same cry...lol. So yes, I agree, surfactant is a God-send.

good for you scribblerrn i've had students that have gone through rough times. and i'm glad they felt at ease enough to share that with me. i encourage them the best i can and help them the best i can. but that does not negate the fact that they are in nursing school now. they have paid for this education so they might as well try to focus. i would even suggest to students to take an incomplete so that they have time to clear their minds and refocus. but while in school, my job is to teach students and make sure they learn. i do not pass students who haven't learned what they were supposed to. think about it, if they were going through different situations, how well are they able to absorb the material? all i can go by is what they do on the unit and in the classroom. they need to have both to pass from me.

I didn't even see this thread..lol. I am an RN who started as an LPN about 13 years ago. I completed my MSN in 2004. Currently I am an LPN clinical instructor (fundamentals). I've only been teaching for a little over a year and I've learned a lot by lurking these boards. I hope to learn even more because I want my students to succeed and practice safely. I also still work in the NICU, my first love.

No offense to CNA's & techs but I started my nursing career in the NICU as an LPN and I'd rather see them in the NICU as opposed to techs. JMO.

The Core review for neonatal intensive care and the Fetal & Neonatal secrets are MUSTS. I've had these books for years and they still come in handy. I have my own neofax but all the nicu's I've worked in do provide them.

as long as a new nurse gets the training & supervision needed, there is no reason a new grad can't work in the nicu. i worked ltc for a couple of years before going to nicu and even though i had work experience, i felt like i just graduated all over again. i had good preceptors and support though and that's what counts (imo). i agree with the suggestion to spend a day in the nicu. it will probably be easier for you anyway since you are already in-house.

I see a lot of the new grads have better chances getting into a teaching hospital than a smaller, more private hospital. Also working in a pediatrics, post partum or regular nursery can be a bridge. Where I'm currently working, student nurses are hired during their last year of school then after they pass boards they start working there. Good luck to you, your kids are beautiful :)