jess_m

I just started in the Neonatal ICU and I LOVE it!! It is just blissful and it does not feel like work at all to me. I couldn't be happier.

I hear that a lot! I usually tell them that we send a lot more kiddos home than die. If it wasn't that way we wouldn't be such a successful hospital. It's so much more than what people think. There are so many wonderful stories there! My brother was a NICU baby (28 years ago) so I have living proof of that.

We have these brown bags that go over the lipids and the tubing itself is also dark brown. The whole TPN and IL set up is changed completely every 24 hours.

I was a 43 weeker and had no problems other than having to be born c-sect because I was 10 lbs (just imagine what I would have been if I was born a few weeks earlier -12 maybe). I was also born with mec but I did not aspirate. My daughter was induced the day I turned 41 weeks because I was afraid of c-sect. She was fine and did not have mec until that night (2-3 hours post delivery).

I was wanting to get a tattoo to symbolize my graduation as well. I am going to get one but I am getting one that symbolizes this phase in my life. I am getting celctic heart that means motherhood. Maybe one day I will get a nursing one too, but I wouldn't want it to be too overtly "nursey."

I think a good work bag or a uniform store gift cert are both great ideas. I just got money and spoiled myself! :)

I graduated May 17th and started my job June 5th. I started on the floor this week. I LOVE IT! I will take the NCLEX July 10th.

I am having a similar experience. My husband is unhappy in his job so I think that is the real issue. He is jealous that I found my dream job.

I found out about the interview one to two weeks after the application and then waited another three months before the actual interview. I found out I got the job two weeks later though. I only applied one place and got that job!

I just got my ADN and I am very happy with it. It still took me almost 4 years but the first two were part time and it would have taken 6 to get my BSN. I figured that it was worth it to just get the ADN and then let the hospital I work for pay for me to complete the BSN. And, I make the same as my BSN friends!!

This topic is a little old but I figured I'd reply anyway. I just started in the NICU at Children's this month and I love it! The nursing staff is mostly on the younger side and I am not but I haven't run into any problems concerning that so far.

I am currently working as a GN.

I worked for KU Med an I think it's a great facility. It's a teaching hospital and close to Magnet.

I am in KC and I worked as an aide for 3 1/2 years before I graduated from nursing school. I worked for an agency and made about $14/hr. Then I wanted to get to practice my skills so I went to a facility that let me do that and my wage dropped to $11/hr as a first year and $12/hr as a second year. I never got any benefits at either place since I only worked part time.

I don't know about being a NICU mom but my brother was a NICU baby. That was a big reason I wanted to do this. My dad is a nurse and always credited his survival to good nursing care (that's about all you got 30 years ago) so I think this is why.

EVERYONE does a 3 minute scrub and wears a gown when holding the babies. We don't allow visitors under 12 and those must be a sibling and accompanied by a parent.

I work in KC, MO and I LOVE my hospital. It's a children's hospital with a level IIIC NICU. There are also several psych hospitals here. We have seasons but the winters don't get too bad. We have a couple snows a winter but nothing too drastic- a couple inches here and there.

I think for me I would become a nurse first and see if you like it in the NICU. You can always become a NP in the NICU if you decide that you would like more procedures and autonomy.

My NICU does everything- I've heard it called Level III and Level IV. We have ECMO and even do transplants so I guess we're Level IIIC.

I've asked a woman how her nipples were feeling. She just laughed but then she realized I was asking her about it because she was a new breastfeeding mom.

Oh I knew that I would be learning everything from scratch. That kind of nursing just isn't taught in nursing school.

I started June 5th and just started on the unit this week in the ICN. I can't believe they pay me to do this!! I am loving it so far.

We say ICN where I work but I've mostly heard it referred to as the nick-u.

I have my first nursing job and it is in a level III NICU. I am so excited because this is what I always knew I was meant to do and when I am there I feel like the luckiest person alive because they actually pay me to do this! I was wondering if those of you who are more seasoned have any words of wisdom for me as I start this new career.