jrj1979

We just do a 2 RN check on all breastmilk before feeding.

we change them out every 7 days. And have a form that hangs on the isolette that states when it needs changed out and on what days to wean the humidity.

I would recommend getting very good at interpreting blood gasses and lab values. Not only knowing how to interpret them, but going one step further and thinking about the vent settings that will be changed based on blood gasses etc. I feel like I spend alot of time explaining these things to parents. Also know your different forms/types of ventilation (conventional, HFOV, CPAP, Sci-Pap, etc). Any type of respiratory diseases as well as GI disorders are going to be common. Get good at recognizing what is normal and it will make it easy to pick up on the abnormal. Never, ever be afraid to speak up for your patient. Sometimes you are the one that knows whats best for your patient and you have to be firm and demand what you think your patient needs even if the medical team disagrees with you, you will gain alot of respect among physicians and others when you are able to master this skill. Pros: Seeing a sick kid come in and progress and make it to the point where they can go home......Also when one of your patient gives you a little smile after a long shift letting you know they appreciate the care you gave them. Cons: Kids not getting to go home, kids passing away. You will see some very disturbing things in the NICU things that will give you nightmares at times. Difficult families can be a bit much at times, but always understand that you have no idea what they are going through. Just be there for them and their baby and support them through one of the most horrifying times in their lives.

I work in the NICU and absolutely love it!!

I did the Accelerated program at Drexel, it is an intense year but you will come out well prepared even if you have no previous medical experience.

Drexel is the quickest 11 months, but it is expensive.

Because this is a 2nd degree program in my case I was only able to get about 12,000 in federal loans. However, PNC has a health professions 2nd degree loan program in which I was able to make up the difference with, plus I think for my PNC loan the interest rate is like 2.5%. I just graduated last September and found the program tough but doable, Good Luck!!

Absolutely best decision I ever made. My original degree was in Business Administration and over the years I worked as a computer programmer, for the government, and even at Home Depot for awhile. Hated all those jobs and had been laid off 4 times in 10 years from different positions so I thought nursing would be something more stable. So don't let all the negative posts discourage you. I have a great job, and only have to work 3 days a week which is great. It is tough at times and some shifts are very challenging but I always leave each day knowing that I made a difference in a childs/families life (I work in a NICU). I work for a teaching hospital so we are somewhat immune from money hungry administration etc. Plus where I work really empowers the nurses that work there and it has lead to a very collaborative culture, and a very postive working environment. So to answer your question, no I don't miss my old "career" getting my BSN was the best decision I ever made.

Well.....we do pay $4 a gallon for some unknown cows milk!!

1. We encourage BF as early and as often as possible. If the infant is NPO or intubated we will do mouth care with colostrum or BM if it is available. 2. I think we have 2-4 LC's in our hospital that spend most of their time in the NICU. However all nurses in the NICU are required to take a 16 hour breastfeeding course as well. 3. I think about 70-80% of our population is either getting breast milk or we get consent to use donor breast milk. Our patient population is very sick and breastfeeding is sometimes the only thing a mother can do for her baby because she isn't able to hold him/her etc. 4. I work in a 76 bed NICU in a Childrens Hospital in the Northeast.

We have them at every bedside usually hanging on the monitor, ours are made with an Excel spreadsheet somebody put together.

I just graduated in September and recently got a job in the NICU at CHOP, so I know they hire new grads!!

I am currently in the 2nd quarter of the program and I am one of the few males in my class (maybe 15 out of 180), however as crazy as this program is I love it. Alot of people want to complain about it but honestly you know what you are getting into before you start. You have to be organized and you have to be commited to getting done the work it takes to pass. I will say I had no medical experience at all before I started the program and have done just fine so far, and as far as being male I have had no problems other than some patients at clinicals not wanting a male student as their nurse. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

I know the story as I grew up in that area. I am currently attending nursing school in Philadelphia and will say that the majority of the facilities I have clinicals in the security is pretty tight, yet the population and people are quite different here than the midwest. In fact there was a patient in Philly a couple months ago that was robbed as he died of a heart attack in the ED waiting room. I think the responsibility also falls on everyone on the floor to be aware of who is on the floor and especially anyone who seems somewhat suspicious.