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caffeine is a drug. If it doesn't work for you maybe you should try something else. I have heard that Provigil is effective, so you could ask your MD about prescribing it. One of it's indications is for shift work (to keep you alert etc)

NeoNurse, I am still adjusting right now I think. I just am not crazy about all the concrete (not the prettiest city) and traffic. It doesn't help that my house has a major bug problem and that it has been sooo hot. Also, I haven't quite gotten around to enjoying all the city has to offer and after more time I am sure I will enjoy it more. Rhollins, I think the traffic is a huge con and if you want to live close and in a safe area you will pay for it (Living in West U would be ideal for me, but out of my price range to rent a house with a yard). That being said, The med center is incredible and Houston still does have about the highest pay vs cost of living you will find anywhere. There is also lots to do. I go to church in Sugar Land and think it would be a great place to live. I would have chosen to live there if my husband wasn't going to have to commute 6 days a week to the med center as well. The traffic shouldn't be too bad during off hours and you are only going 3 days a week so it would be worth it. Plus, even if you live in close it takes FOREVER to get anywhere! I live in Bellaire which is just outside the 610 loop and it was supposed to take me like 12 minutes to get to the med center but it's more like 20. Sugar Land is way nicer and you could actually get a house so I think it is a good option. I think you could still come in and enjoy the city easily from sugar land and possibly have the best of both worlds. Katy is too far and I have heard horror stories of commuting to the med center from the north. As far as getting a job, just pay attention to the dates, stay on top of things and apply early. I know that my hospital has hired several out of staters in our batch of interns. I think it's an asset because it sets you apart from other applicants and shows you have a specific interest in their hosptial coming from out of state. Research as much as you can about the hosptial and be ready to list the reasons you want to work at that hospital and on that particular unit. Good luck!!

The Texas medical center in Houston is a great place to look! There are MANY ICU opportunities. I was offered the ICU positions I applied for and my classmates got ICU or the units of their choice as well. I ended up choosing a NICU position. While it was a little scary and intimidating applying for jobs, I disagree that the competition was cut throat--the tmc is HUGE and opportunities abound. I do have to say though, having just moved to Houston I am not sure how I feel about the city just yet....

It was not always easy, but we got through it!! We struggled at times but we also grew and learned in the process (which was very much needed b/c far greater trials and difficulties are sure to follow). I think the most important thing to remember, (and I should have done much better than I did), is to put your husband/wife first. They are the priority, not nursing! ("richer or poorer, sickness and health"....and nursing school!) You are not just doing this for yourself, you are doing it for them and with with their help. It's a joint effort. Make sure they feel appreciated. Make sure you don't let stress and school/career worries come between your relationships. Sadly, marriages seem to fall apart at an alarming rate and I am sure there are many different factors that play into that. I let myself get stressed out and I think at times that was a heavy load that my husband (someone who doesn't get stressed out himself) had to carry along with me. I was so blessed to have that support! I am sorry for those of you that do not feel supported

Yay for you!!:yeah:Such a relief, huh? I start my first job in June as well Now to tackle NCLEX...

I took everyone's advice and accepted the 1st Nicu offer in the medical center (straight nights). It was hard to decide at first but after getting advice from nurses on this site and a lot prayer I finally got clarity and peace with my choice. I graduate in 3 days and am so excited to start my career in the NICU in June!! Thank you so much to all of you who responded to my post!!

I have had three interviews and three job offers and none of them were given on the spot. They actually were all kind of variants of your situation. So don't give up hope yet!! Good luck!

If you are asking this question now, you will likely be asking it throughout your entire LONG medical training. My husband is in medical school and many of his fellow students, particularly the female ones want to quit and do nursing or ANYTHING else. Even residents who are done with years of training and applying to fellowships want to throw in the towel and choose their families over medicine. You can do both (have a family/life, and be a good doctor) but you don't have much of a life outside of this, and do not get as much family time or respect from your collegues in the medical profession as you would like. You simply can't have your cake and eat it too. There will have to be some compromises here and there. So if you are considering nursing now, I think you should go for it. I just finished up school and am starting my first RN job in June. I used to want to be a doctor, then I wanted to be an NP, and now I seriously am considering just doing bedside nursing or education and leadership roles. (these roles will be equally exciting and challenging in their own way) As far as your thirst for knowledge, I am sure there are some jobs of nursing that are not as challenging but there are tons of areas that you will constantly be learning every day, and many areas where you really do have a lot of autonomy and at the same time more hands on patient care. (you willl make a huge difference as a nurse!) From what you said, ICU sounds like it might be a great fit for you! My advice and experience may not apply to everyone, but I think you have to think about what is most important to you. What do you want your life to be like? Search your motives. Whatever you decide you will be giving something up (and gaining something good of course), just make sure it's not something too valuable to you.

Hospital B!! (better ratios, weekend off, loan repayment, same pay). Based on your post it comes out to be the clear winner. I myself am choosing to relocate (and I hate moving) to a hospital with lower pay and higher cost of living for a better environment and schedule. Seems like in your case hospital B is the best of both worlds.

The thread on "will the NICU limit me" is kind of discouraging to me because I am starting NICU internship in June as a new grad (very excited), but also am interested in volunteering for medical missions to third world countries. Are there very many opportunities for neonatal nurses to do medical missions in our area of specialty? I know the same technologies/equipment will not be available, but will my skills still be useful?

Thanks so much for your input! Is it also good though to have experience in level II and transition nursery? I want to have as many skills as possible during my first two years. Both are level III and high accuity (the one that does not do cardiac pts keeps most of their babies and has many high risk deliveries) but the other hospital in downtown gets all the transfers from surrounding hospitals. At this point as a new grad with no real NICU experience I just don't know what I really need or like, you know?

I am graduating this spring and have a job offer and an interview in two different NICUs. Both are for 6 month internships in level III units in non-profit teaching hospitals. One is very high accuity hospital downtown that has a seperate level III and level II and the other will have me start out in transition nursery, level I, level II and then level III during the 6 month internship.( I will work level III but also have opportunities to take a shifts in the other levels after internship.) Both hospitals do surgeries but the second hospital sends cardiac pts to the first. The second hospital pays more and has better benefits than the med center hospital but has rotating shifts (2weeks days, 2 weeks nights) and 3 days on 2 off, 2 days on 3 off with me working every other weekend (fri,sat,sun) and every other week has 5 12s! I don't know if this schedule is better or worse than just 3 12s on nights. (it is more hours, so more training and overtime pay?) I am concerned with quality of life as well as getting the best start in my nursing career. I want to be in a good atmosphere but feel like both hosptials have good environments...just need a little perspective from some experienced NICU nurses. The downtown hospital would also require a move and higher rent...

I think that nursing school is more about test taking skills and critical thinking than details. I am the least detail person in the world and only study the night before but end up with all "A"s-- so I don't think its a detail thing. I do think that clinical and real nursing practice is a completely different matter and you also have to take learning style into account. If you are a hands on learner then you won't really feel that great about your performance until you get a job and get real experience--then you will do awesome!

I am graduating this april and hope to get my first job in the NICU. This isn't a pet peeve but I lOVE how intense and protective you guys are about your little patients. Makes me feel like I will fit right in!! Also, one other thing. Maybe I am naive or maybe I am too blunt/forward, but is it not possible to speak up and "educate" your co-workers etc. ?Especially if they are repeat offenders and didn't just forget or get to busy to do the right thing.

Yeah I guess I knew you do IVs/Central lines (that was kid of dumb of me, where is the "duh" smiley?), just thought it might be different. But I had no idea you did urinary caths??!! really?? I'm glad b/c I really want to master my skills. But that is kind of dissappointing about the four pts. I think I could handle four but I thought this was critical care? I guess it would be fine if it's acuity based and safe. Four is a fine number for keeping track of things/"being on the ball" about what's going on with each pt but what happens when things go wrong--its an ICU! My impression is that pts in ICU go south quickly. Do you sometimes feel unsafe? Thanks for the feedback!

Well, in a way I guess I purposefully left that out. Your concern was mine as well (example: never been one of those "baby people" that had to hold a baby whenever she saw one-I think they are precious and want to be a mother, just figured happy baby stays happy when with own mother. lol:mad:) but then I realized people are just different. I don't like to make decisions on feelings and I just didn't have any specific thing that drew me to a specific field besides the kind of nurse I want to be and the kind of care I want to be able to provide to my pts. (I kind of revealed in my post my strengths and the kind of nurse I want to be) If I had that draw where I had to work with babies no matter what I would not be questioning whether I can find my niche in the NICU. I am drawn to nursing because I want to help people when they are most vulnerable. Newborns and families in the NICU definitely fit into that description. I feel very strongly about my patients in general and I did work in LDRP as a PCT who did a lot with the infants as far as bathing/VS/hearing screenings/heal sticks and I enjoyed caring for them very much. They were mostly healthy but occasionally we'd have one that needed monitoring and often we'd have one that was born addicted and going to CPS--those would weigh heavy on me when I went home. I have a huge sense of justice and desire to nurture. It's hard to see the hand that these babies are delt at the begining of life. All I can say is that my reasons are very thought out because I didn't feel that initial specific calling to work with babies. I am just getting really excited now that I can see myself in that role as their advocate, and all of the things you great NICU nurses are. Thanks for the response. I really want to have what it takes and If I go into the NICU. Motives are very important to me and I want to go for the right reasons!

LOL! I tried to edit my post but I was too late! I didn't mean that "Keep it coming" comment for you Jolie, I meant for others. :imbar I was just suprised that I already got a great response from a Nurse Manager and was getting greedy for more!!:wink2:

Thanks Jolie!! I forgot to mention that I loooove teaching. I don't think of myself as being very anal rententive so I have often questioned whether I had the personality for the NICU. I think though that I am very protective of my pts and assertive so maybe I have some of those qualities that can help. I hadn't thought of the "detective" aspect! I love that I will get to use my mind that way.(even though it is probably frustrating at times not knowing exactly what they are feeling). I definiately will not mention my back at an interview! It's a legit perk but shouldn't be your reason for going into such a special field. LOL I bet people actually said that in an interview with you!:chuckle:chuckle I shouldn't be laughing-- I hope I don't get nervous and say something crazy! Keep it coming (if you don't mind) I've noticed how helpful you NICU folk are with NICU hopefuls/students and new grads! We appreciate it!!

I think I've made up my mind that NICU is where I want to be as a new Grad. Please read me reasons and comment whether they are accurate or good reasons if you can. I am including where my strengths are etc. I am nurturing and have a holistic mindset- I like dealing with pt's and their families emotional and psychological difficulties. In clinicals I gravitate towards choosing pts with cancer and end stage diseases. I am not afraid of the tough issues. I can read people pretty well and have a sense of what to say and what not so say. However, I do get very emotionally involved with my pts-I often end up praying and crying with them. When i observed in the NICU I liked how the nurses went above and beyond what is expected to be therapeutic to their pts-they realized that the little things count for these pts and they can see when their babies and their family is being loved on by a compassionate nurse. I am assertive- I like to get to be an expert on my patient and even as a student am not afraid to ask questions and talk to the RN about the plan of care and when necessary the MD, PT etc (I don't see a lot of students doing this and I have gotten good results for my pts this way and positive feedback from nurses) I also like to make things better and ask questions about the way things are done. I have a bad back!! I am only 24 and yet I cringe at the thought of moving another pt up in bed. I like working with adults and babies (I've worked as PCT with newborns )more than kids--that may change after I have kids right now I am a little intimidated by them. I haven't had pedi yet but I can't imagine trying to give a pt a shot and them not only cry but say "I hate you how could do this to me? don't hurt me please!" (I did this to nurses as a kid) I love continuity of care-again I like to get to know my pts and their families and it's always nice to see the fruits of your labor if your baby gets to go home or the family says that the experience while horrible was better because of you! Only 2 pts! again I can't stand the thought of not knowing all the details about my pt b/c I am so busy with others or forgetting pts names etc. I want to feel comptetant and in control. Med surg with 8 pts gives me the creeps for this reason. I want to feel like I am giving my pt's the best of me. I am not good at multitasking. I want to feel competant-knowledable. I am not saying that other fields don't offer this I am just not sure i can be a "jack of all trades master of none" person. I know that in the begining I wont know what to do in the NICU but eventually I want to for the most part be able to say "I've seen it all and I know exactly what to do" That way i can just focus on making what we do now better and learning the new evidence based practices, technology etc. I like to know the "why" and understand all of the patho and pharmacology. I like dealing with complex cases and critical thinking. I also feel like NICU nurses get a lot of autonomy compared to others but I am not sure of this. I like the idea of going to other settings during the day too. (such as transports, high risk deliveries etc.) Variety is good and keeps things interesting of course. The things I am most worried about are dealing with the high tech environment (which will become less intimidating I guess after I am trained how to us it), dealing with emergencies (will I do the right thing, will I miss something??) and what about other nursing skills for adults such as IVs, foleys etc, will I lose those? Also, no offense (it probably helps make a good nurse)but I heard that NICU nurses were type A and kind of "anal" and I am not so much. Does that mean that I have the wrong personality type for the NICU? What do you NICU nurses think, am i on the right track? Thank you so much if you read this!!!:bowingpurEveryone asks for help but It takes a selfless person to put time and effort into helping people behind you find their way too.:redbeathe :loveya::redpinkhe

First of all I want to make a suggestion in case you have inadevertantly misrepresented yourself in your post. With my limited understanding I think possibly PACU since there is no family there, Not much running around (I think- but requires careful assessment and ability to respond in emergency) and the pt is kind of out of it so you will not need to teach/talk a lot. Secondly, I want to say that I think it's more than okay to by blunt about wanting good pay and working conditions (who wants to be overworked and stressed out all the time?) However, your post made me soooo sad!.You think you are being blunt...no. It's not just what you are saying or how you are saying it--it's the meaning behind it. You are revealing a very selfish charactor. Everything you posted was about you and how the patients affected you. Why do you want to be a nurse? I think you might need to look at your motives. You don't want to educate and interact with pts??!! (especially those without insurance??!!) That is the essence of nursing. Caring for patients and their families, making people's lives better nomatter who they are!! I am not a nurse yet (graduate next april) but I am prepared for a very difficult road and very difficult pts, coworkers and managers that will ask a lot of me. I know that I will need to get past my feelings and take care of my pts as though they were my own family members. I think you know that there will be things that you dislike about work no matter where it is--that's why you made the likes/dislikes list, right? However, some things are just small but vital parts of care so it is bothersome that they made it to your list. You are considering the NICU but you dislike washing your hands which is vital to protecting those helpless babies. How are you going to treat people/pts who are more difficult to love? Please do not dismiss people's comments as "judging you" --that's the easy way out. Look inside yourself. Don't you want to be good at your job? Nursing requires a lot of hard work, compassion and self-sacrifice not only to be a good nurse but to be a safe one. Can you offer this to your pts right now? Personally, not to "judge" you but to be "blunt"..I don't think so. I am not saying you are a bad person or anything (we all have growing to do). I have nothing to gain by writing this and I am not trying to bring you down. (I like to build people up and encourage them). I just couldn't bear not to say something in case you were not truly considering what your words meant and where they come from. I try to self-examine and test my motives behind my words and actions, but sometimes I miss it and need someone to "call me out". You don't know me so it might not work the same way, but I just hope you have someone to do the same for you:redpinkhe:redbeathe:heartbeat

I am graduating spring '09 and am looking into NICU/PICU...I think. Anyway, I could use some insight from you new nurses who landed your dream job (even if it doesnt feel like it yet. ) Considering when I am graduating ( I know it's waaay to early now!), and I believe internships start in June, when should I start and how should I go about contacting recruiters and getting the info I need to make the decision? How many jobs should I apply for? I don't have any idea how I am going to get the "inside scoop" on the different units. A positive work enviroment with good support/managment and an excellent internship are very important. So how and when did you guys go about the job search? Did you feel like your decision was "informed" enough or were there some suprises once you started? What do you wish you knew/did differently? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!! :nuke: