laynaER

I agree with the sentiments of pretty much everyone else. I was so saddened to hear about these nurses who were inflicted with the virus. It was a testament to the fact that nurses are usually the sacrificial lambs in the workplace. We are most likely to suffer from abuse at the hands of patients and/or visitors, and most likely to contract infectious diseases due to the close proximity in which we work with our patients. We should be here to support each other and let these nurses know we stand united with them!

This article made me sick to my stomach.

I work in one of the busiest nicus in a large city with a level 1 trauma and my nicu is a high functioning state of art nicu. All i can say is girl, i have BEEN there. I have seen nightmares with my own eyes you can't even begin to fathom. We have no support system really. Just sitting here typing this is giving me flashbacks. I feel like the psychological effects of seeing tramautic events is something we as nurses tend to over look. It gets swept under the rug and nobody talks about the trauma we experience, we just go on working. It's become taboo. Find someone who you can vent to. Start writing your thoughts down. It may become cathartic. That's all i got. I can barely help myself let alone someone else. Good luck!

I got my job through a hook up. That's why networking is so important. They took me and plenty other new grads. In NYC

I agree with others. The bath should be delayed until at least 6 hrs after birth. There is no rush to bathe a baby. Skin to skin should be initiated immediately and the temp shouldve been taken prior to giving the bath.

YES!!!! LOL

It is not what you say, it is HOW you say it and unfortunately many have not mastered the art of correcting someone in a professional manner and in a way that isn't perceived as an attack. I don't think any reasonable person would be upset about being corrected when they have made a mistake. Most people take it as a personal affront when people speak to them in a condescending manner and/or treat them as if they're an idiot. They may not remember exactly what the person said but they will remember HOW the person made them feel.

Get experience in GA first before applying to any jobs out here. The competition is very stiff with the over saturation of new grads in the job market pool who are all after the same thing. Getting at least one year experience will put you in an entirely different category and will give you an edge over all these thousands of new grads all applying for the same position.

I was a new grad with no experience when I first started, at least you have some experience. I felt intimidated as well!! It was all so very overwhelming all of the different diagnosis and everyyyything all that once. Don't worry, it eventually goes away once you get the hang of it and just remember you're never alone. When in doubt, just ask! You will be comfortable one day. Be patient with yourself.

I don't think nurses eat their young. I think there are just some nasty people out there with chips on their shoulders who treat others poorly as a reflection of their own insecurities. It has nothing to do with seasoned nurses vs new grads. They're nasty because they're a nasty person, not because they're a seasoned nursed who likes to eat his or her young. A nice person is a nice person who will be nice to everyone regardless of their level of expertise.

We allow parents to take photos and record videos of their little ones but they are not allowed to film or take pictures of a procedure or staff members. I do not want to be filmed or photographed; it is my personal right. 2nd, it could later be used as evidence in a lawsuit God forbid you accidentally omit a vital piece of information during teaching or contaminate a clean or sterile field, etc. I do not like the idea at all because you don't know what people's motives are for recording. As an alternative, offer handouts they can refer to or offer resources from the internet. At some point a line needs to be drawn. Us nurses have rights too.

Wow you gals gave some great advice! I will be taking everything into consideration starting.....now! Lol thanks!

The recent hires at my job have been volunteers! It sucks to say that we are now in an age where simply just applying is not enough. It has become all about who you know. My advice would be to contact your local hospital's volunteer office, sign up to volunteer, and volunteer on a unit you're interested in working on. When a position opens up, you may be the first person who comes to the hiring manager's mind. Learn as much as you can by helping out a nurse, show initiative, and help out as much as you can. Hang in there. Something's got to give. I went through the same thing when I was looking for a job 4 years ago. I remained patient and didn't give up.

I recently started watching the show and I love it! I have a couple friends that work at that hospital. They do amazing things there and I'm always drawn in to the stories I see.

Hello everyone, I recently gave birth and I am already dreading going back to work! I work 3 12's/week which isn't so bad but my little one will only be 2 months old when I return and probably not sleeping through the night yet. I go back next month. Any mommy nurses with any tips on how to avoid extreme exhaustion or how to prepare to go back to work? I work on a busy critical care unit! Thanks in advance!

It seems like they've built an impenetrable fort around that hospital! When I was job searching they refused to accept my resume when I walked into HR. They insisted I go online. I secured an interview by calling the nurse recruiter and asking if they were still accepting resumes for the new grad residency program. I got through 2 rounds of interviews at LIJ but didn't receive a job offer. I guess it wasn't meant to be. I've been working for 3 years now so in the grand scheme of things, I learned job hunting has its ups and downs, you'll receive more no's than yes's, but in the end you get back the amount of effort you put in. Eventually something has to give. Don't give up! And volunteer if you're that passionate about one particular hospital. Also research extern programs!

You should volunteer at your hospital/unit of choice. The last 3 hires on my ICU unit were volunteers! Just applying isn't enough anymore. You have to network, network, and network! Consider reaching out to the places you did your clinical rotations at, your previous professors at nursing school who have friends, etc. I still say volunteering is probably the best route! You get direct connection with the staff, especially ADN or DON, you can learn as much as possible while gaining new nursing skills, and when a position becomes available, you are on the frontline and the first person in the mind of the hiring manager. People are more likely to hire people they know or someone who was suggested to them by a friend/colleague. Good luck!

I just think we live in a very vain society. We live in a culture that values aesthetics and we often tend to forget the important things. They are nothing more than a product of society. I've gotten those types of questions too. It's always questions that seem extremely trivial. Everyone is obsessed with baby's weight. They always ask what's his weight because it's really the way they measure progress. I always get this question when we get a clubbed foot baby that has either myelomeningocele or another genetic disorder: When can you fix his feet? Mind you, these kids also have hydrocephalus and is about to have VP shunt placement. It boggles my mind!

We use diapers as well. I always fold the diaper down when the baby is prone to expose more skin! Voila! The levels drop everyday. Does anyone have a protocol for irradiance and what the target is for single, double, and triple?

What you are feeling is normal. I felt that way too. I am 2 years in and sometimes I still feel that way but if you don't face your fears they will intimidate you even more. What helped me? Just remember, if you are not sure, just ask. People know you are new to this and no one will fault you for double checking. Better to tuck your ego in your pocket and get the right answers then be proud and make a mistake. Lastly, you are never alone. The worst that can happen is the kid crashes and if that happens, just bag and remember, you are not alone. Someone with experience will be right there. If you keep those two things in mind, you can't go wrong!

I now have 2 years experience in an ICU setting at another hospital but I went for an interview at Mt Sinai back when I was a new grad looking for a job and had a horrible experience with HR at Mt Sinai. Discriminatory even. It completely turned me off from that hospital. I realized it just wasn't meant to be but I didn't give up, kept looking, and after a 10 months of job searching as a new grad I finally got a job. To all the new grads out there don't give up!

You guys have given phenomenal advice, words cant express how much it means to me. I will carry a bit of each advice with me, especially the one about writing. Thank you all do much! Anyone else with any anecdotal stories or advice, feel free to add! :-)

Thanks for your advice, i will definitely take it to heart!

Hello everyone, i work in a level 3 nicu & am a fairly new nurse. I just experienced my first death & i am taking it pretty hard. I got really attached to this child & his mom. I wanted so bad for him to make it. I havent slept too well & i cry from time to time. I know it's a part of life in nicu, but does anybody have any advice on how to move forward or how you deal when you lose a kid? It's pretty easy to say "i'll try not to be too emotionally involved", but it's hard not to!

On my unit they are fed via OG tube. I dont see how nipple feeding these kids can be safe if they are requiring pressure to keep their airway open. Good suck, swallow, breathe coordination can't possibly be achieved that way. If a baby is tachypneic to 70s we wont nipple feed either.