BSN06HH

I can kinda see what you are talking about. When my friends and I get together and talk about our jobs (we all went to college together and have bachelor's degrees in various fields), my friends in science, teaching, and mostly business are disgusted by what nurses have to do. They always say "Thank God there are people that are willing to do that". Most people that graduate with a bachelor's degree don't think they will have to do grunt work and deal with all the gross bodily functions that most people don't even want to know about. Unfortunately, being a nurse means dealing with these things and most of us knew that going in. It is just one of those sacrifices we make when we become a nurse and many people look down on us having to deal with poop, like that is the only thing we do. That is why being a nurse requires perserverence and a desire to really make a difference and help others. Yes, we see people at their worst but we also get to see people at some of the most inspiring and wonderful times. Being a nurse (and CNA) takes a special person and I admire all those who have done this (most of the time) thankless job for many years. I hope I can last that long. God bless u all

Thanks for your responses. I did get a chance to shadow in the NICU, although it is hard to know what people i'll be working with since my offer was for night shift. I do feel more comfortable with the NICU offer since the orienation is 6months. So if i was picking solely on orientation program, i'd pick NICU. I do have doubts not picking L&D, since positions in it are so scarce. I've been searching for months for an opening and finally got an interview. L&D seems to be a place that you can only get into with L&D experience, so this is my key to getting this experience so i'm afraid to pass it up. I talked to the educator today in L&D, she said it is 4 weeks in Mother/baby and NBN and then 8 weeks in L&D, scrubing in/antepartum. my base unit is L&D but i'm required to do competencies once a week in mother/baby or NBN. I even questioned such a short orientation in L&D and she said "our orientees always do just fine with it and our orientation has been successful". Thanks again for your responses!

I agree, I would have really liked to shadow. I only got to shadow one of the offers (NICU), and the L&D job was offered to me friday and i have until tomorrow (monday) to tell them if i accept...so i only had the weekend to think it over. both positions are night shift so I did't even get a feel for what the night shift staff will be like. one of my main concerns is mostly only having a 3 month orientation for all perinatal areas, but i know finding a position in L&D without experience is really really hard to come by so i hate to pass it up. hmmm....i still don't know. Thanks for your responses so far!

Hello, I'm an RN with one yr of experience in adult oncology and i just got offered 2 job offers that i'm equally excited about. i have a passion for both areas and am seriously torn between the two. Job #1 is in a level 3 or 4 NICU (does ECMO etc) at a inner city children's hospital that has a 6 month orientation. Job #2 is a perinatal nurse position (mostly L&D but cross-trained in antepartum and postpartum) at a hi-risk suburban hospital with a 3 month orientation. I really feel lucky to have both these options and never would have thought I would be offered both of them on the same day. For those of you who work/have worked in these areas what are your least favorite parts of working in NICU or LDRP? I know they both are stressful, but would you say one is more stressful than the other? Would one open more doors (down the road) than the other? Any advice anyone can give me would be really appreciated. Also, do you think 3 months is long enough of an orientation in L&D esp when having to cross-train in pp and antepartum. I have also posted this in OB, but wanted the NICU nurse perspective. Sorry so long and thanks again!

Hello, I'm an RN with one yr of experience in adult oncology and i just got offered 2 job offers that i'm equally excited about. i have a passion for both areas and am seriously torn between the two. Job #1 is in a level 3 or 4 NICU (does ECMO etc) at a inner city children's hospital that has a 6 month orientation. Job #2 is a perinatal nurse position (mostly L&D but cross-trained in antepartum and postpartum) at a more hi-risk suburban hospital with a 3 month orientation. I really feel lucky to have both these options and never would have thought I would be offered them on the same day. For those of you who work/have worked in these areas what are your least favorite parts of working in LDRP or the NICU? I know they both are stressful, but would you say one is more stressful than the other? Would one open more doors (down the road) than the other? Any advice anyone can give me would be really appreciated. Also, do you think 3 months is long enough of an orientation in L&D esp when having to cross-train in pp and antepartum. Sorry so long and thanks again!