kittykai

We just use ETOH wipes. Scrub for 30 seconds and wait til it dries. We do this on all of our ports prior to infusing meds. All of our surgical babies have their tubing changed every day and nonsurgical babies every three days. The only time we do any sterile procedures is for starting UVCs, UACs, PICC lines, and broviacs. Of course when we are changing the cressing for these lines they are sterile as well. We do not have high infection rates at all. Maybe one every six months or so. We are sticklers for good hand hygeine. Clean hands equal healthy babies and nurses.

Try Phoenix Childrens or Tucson Medical Center. Both are in Arizona, hire new grads, offer relocation assistance, and pay for your student loans along with your NCLEX. I think you would love living in AZ. You can get around with out a car(not entirely recommended) and it would be easy for you to fly home. You will have to sign a two year contract(two years is nothing) and start on nights but both are excellent NICU's. Good luck.

Your schedule depends on the needs of your unit. I do three in a row which help me with my kids feeling like there is some normalcy:eek:. 3-12's is considered a full work week even though it is shy of 40 hours. I would recommend that you call the hospital you are interested at and see if there is mandatory call and transport call:banghead:. Good luck and I hope it works out for you.

It really makes me sad that they are giving you such a difficult time. If you can go to another NICU in another hospital, I think that would be the best bet. It just sounds like the people you work with are just plain mean. You don't deserve to feel the way you do. I have been in my NICU a year and I really like it. I enjoy going to work. You should too. Try another hospital. I hope it all works out for you.

Have you tried talking to your preceptor on the unit? I know I can always talk to mine about how I am feeling but we have a good relationship. Is there anyone there you could trust and tell them how you feel and see if they think you should stick it out or transfer? Someone on your unit may have better insight on the situation. Good luck to you. I wish you all the best.

Orientation is only as stressful as you allow it to be. For me, everything I did had to be perfect. It was obviously unrealistic as a new nurse. They know you have no experience and will orient you properly. Feel free to ask as many questions as you can. Even if you had asked the question the day before but don't remember exactly what to do. You are there to learn and they are there to teach you. You will do fine. If you work in a good place, you ought to have a good support system there. Use it. Good luck and relax ... you are done with nursing school!

I am not sure you should quit. I know how you feel. Perhaps it is just the new and not knowing how to react to different situations. It is always hard starting a new job but even more difficult beginning a new career. Try a different area of nursing like peds, nicu, pacu, etc... Don't give up.

We :heartbeat our volunteers. Especially the ones that volunteer at night. I would suggest to introduce yourself to the nurses and ask them if they have any babies for you to feed or just hold. Thank you so much for volunteering. We appreciate you guys. Congratulations and good luck!

I don't know if you still need info but try Rady's Children in San Diego. They pay well, will relocate you, and is a great NICU.

We've had our fair share of Justice for boys. I even know a girl named Justice.

I got in right away as a new grad. Since I did my preceptorship in the NICU, I had my foot in the door anyway. Don't give up. Apply to all NICU's, even the level II"s. You'll get in somewhere.