CaliNicuRN

I am nearly 3 years in as a NICU nurse and still worry about missing something or forgetting something. My biggest concern is that I will miss signs that a baby's condition is worsening. This is an area of nursing where you will always have new things to learn (aren't all areas like that though?). I think the biggest thing I noticed as I have gained experience, although I still think of myself as a new nurse, is that I no longer feel knots in my stomach on the way to work. That seemed to have gone away somewhere around a year or so in. You will get through it!

I think that UCSF has a NNP on campus. Is there such a thing as an online NNP?

Very well said! I had those same feelings and did in fact leave the NICU, at 8 months in. I was unhappy with the unit overall and thought that it meant I was not cut out for the NICU (my dream all through school). I left and went to a step down special care nursery job. Guess what, in 6 months there I was bored out of my mind. Found another nicu position and am now very very happy and content. Looking back, I think most of my problems were first year jitters. From someone who has been there, leaving worked out great for me, taught me alot. But staying may have been my best option. Go with your gut instinct. It could simply be the unit you are on that you are not fitting in well with or the icu is not for you at this time. :)

I do get alot of "should I see the doctor, what do you think this is...." I have told my kids to stop telling people I am a nurse. ESPECIALLY at their sporting events. If something happens and I'm comfortable going to someone's aid, I'd like to choose to do that on my own. My standard line when someone asks me something medical is "I'm sorry I'm a nicu nurse, I only deal with patients under 12 lbs" .

I can understand your concerns, but I have to say the men I have worked with in the NICU rock! We have several male RNs on the pm and the night shift and I love working with them. My preceptor when I began in the nicu was a man and he was very knowledgeable, easy going, didn't get involved in the drama of the unit. I think it's great. If you have a passion for this area of nursing, follow that passion. What is the saying? Something about loving your work and you never work a day in your life. We spend so much time in our careers, do something you thoroughly enjoy! :)

Hello New Grad! I know I never felt I would get past that feeling. I am nearly 2 years into my career in the NICU. I actually left my first hospital because I was so scared of harming a patient. Within my first year and a half I changed hospitals 3 times. I have finally found my place. I have days and patients I am still scared of. It does get better. I think a bit of fear in our career is a very healthy feeling. It keeps us asking questions and at a heightened state of awareness. Those feelings give us the ability to do more than we think we can. I am not talking about those who think they know all. Just keeping us to the point where we question ourselves and keep THINKING. My best advice is to take a deep breath, focus on one shift at a time, study what you feel you need to learn more about, ASK questions (even if you have to keep asking the same question several times until someone explains it to where you can understand). We have a job where we should never stop learning. Take the time when not at work to study what makes you uncomfortable at work. I have often brought home standing orders (blank, of course) to study, careplans, and other quidelines so I can look at them when not in a hurry and rushed. You will get there! YOU CAN DO IT!

I really would not recommend neonatal icu for you. There is alot of patient/family teaching. These infants are fragile and nosocomial infections are trouble in ANY area of the hospital. That is all I can say and maintain my "niceness" so I'll stop here.

Thank you for tracking your feelings the way you did. I wish I had done that. I'm a year and a half in and do feel "settled" if not always wonderful. I changed jobs 3x my first 14 months in and I think that is part of why it took me so long to feel more comfortable. Now I am a hospital and unit that I love. I do get the support I need and the challenges I want. I'm going to mark this post for myself so I can pass it on to other new nurses when they are first beginning. I am a NICU nurse. :)

I have worked with about 6-8 male NICU nurses, and two male charge nurses in the NICU. I wouldn't trade any of them! The charge nurses are fantastic, very supportive and even tempered. I say go for it! If you love your job, the families and your coworkers will know it.

To be the devil's advocate here...... I wouldn't look at it so much as the night nurse writing up the day nurse. I would view it as policy and procedure. A med was missed. If the noc nurse noticed it and didn't document it somehow she was negligent in her own right. I don't feel it is so much about LOOK AT YOU, you made a mistake, but instead I see it as a mistake was made and it needed to be documented. Yes, the noc nurse could have called the doc and notified him/her of the missed med without making a write up. The nurse could have come directly to the poster and talked about it, and indeed she should have. I just don't think that negates the fact that something was in fact missed. Yes, I have been written up for mistakes. Some of them I think should have been just corrected and the nurse should have told me. I was new and learning. But a missed med is a missed med. To the original poster... We've all had days like yours. You did a great job with a grueling patient load and students to boot. The mistake was minimal, your manager said not to worry and above all NO harm was done. Keep up your good work.

We had a little 25 weeker that actually had a wonderful nicu course. He was on room air by 26 weeks... never intubated... Amazing. Anyhow his parents named him "Gift". His middle name was very normal, something like Brian. We all called him by his middle name. Poor little boy.

The men in my unit and my previous one have been very very well accepted. I love having a mix of men and women in our unit. Go where you will be happiest. The Nicu is very rewarding.

I agree completely and as a fellow nurse, thank you for reminding me I'm not a female nurse any more than you need to be termed a male nurse. I absolutely love the mix that having both men and women in our profession brings!

I'm sorry for your pain. Yes, we have a tie to law enforcement, paramedics, firefighters, emt's and other health/rescue related people. I am personally married to a police officer. I know many nurses married to other rescue workers. I think the tie is the ultimate goal of helping others at the risk of ourselves. Now most of us RN's are not so much risking our lives although there is a risk of injury due to needle sticks and such. We also have to put aside our emotions to help someone else in their time of need. I am proud of the job we do, as well as our rescue worker peers! Tracy

You may not need your own scope. Often the NICU's have dedicated scopes for each baby to avoid cross contamination. Check with your hospital before you make the purchase. :)