NICUQueen

In the teaching hopital where I worked, the on-call resident was called first. If s/he did not respond or responded inappropriately, then the 2nd yr. resident was called. If all else failed, then the staff MD was called. It is a hierarchy that will be confusing at first, but your preceptor will help you throught it all. Even more confusing is that we had residents that were assigned to my unit during the day for the month, then different ones for the night shift, then even other different ones for the weekend. Very confusing to the patient as well.

I worked in an NICU for 20 years. I do know how you feel. While family & friends would tell me how lucky I was to be able to "hold & rock babies all day long", we all know that there is much, much more to it all than that. An RN from NICU had to attend every delivery, which relieved the L&D nurses from having to care for the baby & could devote all their attention to the mother. While I watched every delivery, I also was anticipating there being an unforeseen problem. Of course, when there was a problem, that also meant way more work! I don't necessarily think that means that you are burned out, I think you are realizing that your job entails very hard work. If you do feel unsecure in your knowledge of how to handle a problem, take a NRP course or ask questions of co-workers. You may just need more time to feel more secure in your job. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I worked til the day I turned 60, then retired!

I, too, am one who bought a timeshare, straight out of nursing school. Used it one time, tried to sell it a couple times, finally ended up giving it back to the company, along with some money. I am so glad to be rid of it, but a major lesson learned...do not buy a timeshare!

I graduated from nursing school back in the dark ages and it was the same way. I wanted to drop out during my last year (those darn care plans just about did me in) but decided that if I did drop out, all my friends would finish, then where would I be? Last year I retired from a teaching hospital where the resident docs became family practice docs. They would fuss all the time about the program and how frustrating it was. I always told them to just "play the game." Go along with what was required and soon their 3 yr residency would be finished. Nursing school weeds out those who cannot, or chose not, stick it out, play the game or keep on chugging. Where will you be if you quit now?

I am always amused when people ask about an "average" salary. Each facility is so different. Salary is figured on base, plus differential (if any), any certifications, length of time worked at facility, raises that have been given, etc. So many things are figured into what any individual makes, including overtime & all the other things that I mentioned. I think it is very difficult to say what an average salary is for any RN, imho.

I have been a nurse for almost 27 years and I retired a little over a year ago.

I think incorrect spelling and grammar reflect an inattention to detail. Nurses are supposed to be highly educated and should know how to spell correctly and use proper grammar. When I see common words spelled incorrectly by a nurse, I do think that they are not paying attention to detail. It does make me wonder what other details they are not picking up. I was taught in nursing school (almost in the last century!), that spelling does reflect education. I continue to believe that. I also realize that sometimes we nurses are in a hurry and do make mistakes, but not continually. Please, nurses, try to use proper spelling and grammar!

I agree. If you really want to be a nurse, you are going to have to face much more difficult situations and if you cannot do this, you have no future in nursing. Did you not think you would have to be on your feet for 8 or 12 hour shifts, knowing that your back was bad? What did you imagine nursing to be? I hope that you are able to sort all this out and find somewhere that will employ you. Good luck.

How are you on unemployment if you are employed by this agency???

You say you will graduate soon. Most travel nursing companies require at least one year's experience before placing you. Med/surg is a good experience builder!

Graduated from high school. Married and had children. Went to college and obtained a BSN. Worked for 25 years, 20 in an NICU. Retired and am enjoying stess-free living!

University of Louisiana-Monroe BSN 1983

I worked as an NA during my last 2 years of nursing school. I knew exactly what I was getting in to and still went on to graduate and worked for well over 25 years in the field.

I worked NICU for almost 20 years. Being floated to med/surg was very much a stress for me. I did not know where anything was, even the sink to wash my hands was in an inconvenient place. It was one of my main reasons for retiring when I did, I hated it that much!

Exactly what I did for almost 20 years, work in NICU. BUT, I would NOT want to be pulled to any other unit!

Being floated was one of the main reasons that I retired when I became eligible. I worked in the NICU for nearly 20 years and hated being floated to adult units. Who would want a baby nurse taking care of them?

How much money you make as an RN also depends on if you work the night shift, holidays, overtime, length of service and a specialty unit. The money varies so much. Of course, money varies as to hospital, area of the country and many other things.

No, I do not regret retiring from nursing. Yes, I miss my NICU patients and most of the families. I miss the girls I worked with and the fun times we had and the closeness that it all brings. I do not miss being pulled to adult units, the mountains of paperwork required of us on top of the patient care, the docs with attitudes, the working on major holidays and every-other-weekend. I will always be a nurse, but surely do no regret retiring.

Frankly, I retired because I was fed up with being pulled to adult units while working in a NICU for 19 years. I reached 60 in January and was eligible for retirement and took it without looking back. The politics of nursing pushed me over the edge. More and more responsibility is falling on nurses since they are at the bedside 24/7 and it just became too much for me. OTOH, in this economy, I feel like I gave a new nurse a job! Plus, the fact that now I can be with my dh as he is a pipeliner and is gone much of the time. We just bought a travel trailer and no matter where we are, our home is the same while the scenery changes! Good times!

The main reason I chose to retire last January was because of pulling. I worked in the NICU for over 20 years, but management expected us to work on the med-surg unit any time our census was low. It did not matter if we told them we were not experienced in adult nursing, our only other choice was to be fired! I always went, but stayed close to the charge nurse and went to her with the smallest question I had about anything. Nowdays, management expects RN's to do any and everything as they are on the job 24/7 and be grateful that we have a job. I am glad I am out of nursing.

I retired from my state job this past January, as soon as I turned 60. My retirement allows me to keep our (dh & my) health insurance. Fortunately, dh is still working so my retirement check is just lagniappe!

I had to call in late one morning because there was a skunk under my carport, right next to my car! The superviser just laughed! I certainly was not going to even try to get to my car until I knew for sure that the skunk was gone. Sure enough, he soon left and I made my late way to work.

Yes, it does. I am a grammar and spelling freak. I think, as professionals, we should be mindful of these.

Eat the crow and the humble pie, but hopefully, you won't have to eat the dirty old bandages from last Tuesday! LOL! Keep us informed!