Peanut_RN

I guess I just have bad tastes in my mouth because my 1st NICU job was in a level III and I had a terrible experience with the nurses... they basically told me my skills were excellent, but my personality didn't fit. I am such a good nurse and nice person I don't understand how they can say that and then the whole transport nurse thing happens. I came to work my currect level II to get some more experience before I go back to a level III, but many times I am so scared to think of being treated like I have been again... but I love a level III for the thrill, excitement, and opportunity to use my brain!!!

I'm sorry I can't relate to the whole BSN wanted thing because I am a BSN grad... so I guess whenever I see a NICU position open, I just apply because I know I am qualified as far they are concerned... which NICU in IN did you apply to just now? I am on the verge of looking at another job too... my NICU right now has no babies and a 31 weeks just got transferred out (maternal). We can take 28 weekers and there was no reason she needed to go... it stinks!!!

my 1st NICU position right out of nursing school was in a level III NICU, my dream job!!! After about 10 weeks of orientation, my preceptor, nurse educator, manager, and myself sat down to talk about how things were going. Well, they basically told me I had excellent skills as a new nurse, but my personality didn't fit. And all along I thought things were going fine. Then, I continued to work (keeping in mind what had been said), and then on a night about 2 weeks after our "talk", I had my 1st admission on my own (a term mec kid). No one came to help me or ask if I was doing ok in this 75 bed unit. I had to go seek out my charge nurse (who never took an assignment) to help me start my IV, do a BC, get my other labs, etc. After that I had it and gave my resignation the next day. I mean I actually enjoyed going to work too, and it was to a point where I would cry every day I had to work. My mom (also a nurse) said I should love work at this stage in my life, especially as a new RN. The other issue, in aspect of keeping comments to yourself, was when I was just talking to my preceptor casually one night and told her how I didn't feelgood "pushing" breast feeding onto mothers. The unit basically told you that you had to tell mothers their babies would die if she didn't pump or didn't allow is to use donor milk. I feel breastfeeding is a mother's decision and after hearing the pros & cons of both breast milk & formula should be able to make an educated decision. They hated me after that... I then spent 1.5 years in Ortho and Cardiac ICU (post open heart) before realizing NICU was just what I was meant to do. I am now in a level IIB NICU and love it!!! They don't shove things down your throat so bad!! The people are so nice and teamwork is everywhere, but I do miss a level III and the thrill of it. But I have decided (for now), enjoying work is much better then not working NICU at all. Hope this helps and doesn't discourage you...

I totally disagree because,unfortunately, voice fluctuations cannot be heard over internet... she was totally meaning in a "put down" way... even the other nurses I work with said she is always like that when she comes... it's not that we aren't smart enough... it's just that our hospital doesn't have the needed resources

No problem... I know the wait, call, wait, call.... thing!!! I'm doing it right now with a low level III, but even with that there's a part of me that justs think I should stay where I am because I am happy... I mean it'snot like I'm retiring tomorrow....

My mom worked with a NURSE who had twins (a boy & a girl) and was so happy when she found out the "hospital already named her babies"... pronounced Molly & Famolly... spelled Male & Female. I also do have a cop friend who arrested a Shi-thade... just put the "e" before the "a" for the spelling it was...

Definately keep your comments to yourself unless patient safety is at risk like Jolie said. I learned the hard way that level III nurses are very skeptical of newbies. They basically pushed me out after 14 weeks.

Hi. I was just wondering what level III RNs think of level II RNs. The NICU I work is a level IIB and we have a big tertiary center 2 miles down the street which is where our neos come from. It seems whenever we have a transfer to go to the level III the transport team comes and acts like we are a bunch of idiots. Example: I had a baby a couple of months ago that was term, out on mother/baby and at 24 hrs. of age became lethagic, poor feeder. After an ECHO/workup, it was found the kid had major CHDs, ductal dependant. We started prostaglandins, O2 and set up for a transfer to level III. Because of insurance reasons and some other stuff the kid didn't get transferred until like 12 hours later, but was doing fine, was stable. When the transport team came and were doing their assessment, the baby was crying. The one nurse goes "O, it's ok baby. They did ok for you here". OK?!?!? She's still alive and stable!!!! I think she's doing great!! It just hit me hard because I am not stupid nor are any of the nurses I work with. I was just wondering what other nurses think of this... anyone ever have similar problems? Thanks!!!

I am from a level IIB NICU where we keep only traditional vents. We have a minimum of 2 nurses on at all times (even with just 1 baby). We then have a Neo on call 24/7 with an in house Peds Intensivist at all times. They can go to all deliveries the Neo doesn't think he needs to come in for or if he can't get in soon enough. He would then take over once he got there. A nurse goes to deliveries like decels, the intensivist comes for things like mec along with a NICU nurse. If we have a vent or cpap, the neo then stays in house the entire time. I feel pretty safe with this, maybe just what I'm used to...

I can completely relate... my 1st NICU position right out of nursing school was in a level III NICU, my dream job!!! After about 10 weeks of orientation, my preceptor, nurse educator, manager, and myself sat down to talk about how things were going. Well, they basically told me the opposite of you (zoobyli), the I had excellent skills as a new nurse, but my personality didn't fit. And all along I thought things were going fine. Then, I continued to work (keeping in mind what had been said), and then on a night about 2 weeks after our "talk", I had my 1st admission on my own (a term mec kid). No one came to help me or ask if I was doing ok in this 75 bed unit. I had to go seek out my charge nurse (who never took an assignment) to help me start my IV, do a BC, get my other labs, etc. After that I had it and gave my resignation the next day. I mean I actually enjoyed going to work too, and it was to a point where I would cry every day I had to work. My mom (also a nurse) said I should love work at this stage in my life, especially as a new RN. I then spent 1.5 years in Ortho and Cardiac ICU (post open heart) before realizing NICU was just what I was meant to do. I am now in a level IIB NICU and love it!!! The people are so nice and teamwork is everywhere, but I do miss a level III and the thrill of it. But I have decided (for now), enjoying work is much better then not working NICU at all. Hope you find a happy place to work!!!

One of pet peeves is the obsession some nurses have about giving EMB to infant's whose mother's never wanted to breast feed in the 1st place. I truly believe EBM is great for preemies and their delicate bellies, but please don't make a mother feel like she's a bad mother because she doesn't want to breast feed or pump. Forcing her to pump won't make it any better once she gets home with the baby. Also, don't make us through away/ not use anything with a formula name on it (like a mousepad we have at work now with Nestle blacked out on it). Many babies have grown up on formula and became jusst fine people. Also, we have a class we have to attend at our work about "Baby Friendly" stuff and the 1st sentence of the handout says "millions of babies die each year because they are not breast fed". In the U.S. or are we talking 3rd world countries where there isn't any formula for them to have???

Could be sepsis... we had a baby a few weeks ago doing wonderfully and then just went apneic one night, heart rate to the 20's, and died after 3 hours of working on her... very sad case!!! But diagnosis was: overwhelming sepsis.