carrotstix

I dont think my BSN residency program has benefited me at all. The support of your unit and unit specific orientation is FAR more important.

On the whole, I love my job and the vast majority of my coworkers. But that doesn't make for a very interesting thread on AN. I don't need advice on how to manage my job satisfaction. Nursing is not perfect, but it is not "horrible" to me either. It really depends...

I suggest PALS and NRP if those are your preferred specialties. I took PALS without taking ACLS first, just needed current BLS.

PreemieNurse, this has been my experience in NICU, probably drastically different from adults. If I have more aspirate than will fit in say the 10cc syringe Im using then I disconnect, put the full syringe to the side and use another until I have it all. When I call an advanced practitioner depends on how much the total volume of a feeding is and the color of the aspirate. If it's just a little partially digested formula I give it back, feed on top, and document. Sometimes if the residual is a nasty color we will toss it and feed fresh. Depends very much on the baby.

A count comes up on everything in our pyxis. Generally at 0800 if you pull a multivitamin it will say "183, is this correct"? and you just hit yes because it really doesnt matter at that point. I think it helps them keep track of stocking and what we are low on,

Enthusiasm, willingness to learn...

The last baby I did post mortem on got swaddled in a blanket and wore a hat (she had a congenital defect) The family kissed her goodbye and I held her until the paperwork was ready for her to go to the morgue. We have little infant caskets that are plastic and have a printed cloth lining that is lace around the edges. There is a little pillow all built in. Before you put the top on she looked as though she was sleeping in a little basinette and I firmly believe that is how it should be for a precious baby. But I thought I was weird because I didnt feel comfortable leaving her body by itself after she had passed. I felt like I had to be with it, to protect it. Which made it so awful to leave her in the morgue

Check this out, it is a doctor who is dedicated to doing exactly as you say, maintaining the natural childbirth in the hospital environment. Hope it helps! http://www.homebirthinthehospital.com/

We have slivers

I didn't read through all of these posts (because there are way too many!) but I was so surprised to see many people saying that nursing students are not usually in social sororities. In my program I would say at least half of my class was greek, including myself. I will say though, I cant think of anyone in any of the sororities in my school who had a child. That is truly unique.

I am very pro midwifery, Baby Catcher is one of my favorite books. However, I was concerned the other day when I stumbled across a certain video on youtube. It was a homebirth VBAC of twins. As a NICU nurse the thought gave me chills. Apparently this woman had traveled out of state to find a midwife (not a CNM) to do this with her. Luckily her outcome was positive but that just sounded so risky to me!

We have a few volunteers, they hold and cuddle babies who need some extra attention.

After my first baby coded, I cried heavily, I was truly emotionally crushed but my coworkers hugged me and gave me support. There are so many beautiful success stories to help balance your life. There is no feeling like seeing an infant who fought for their life go home in their corificeat with their parents. If you have a passion for babies and helping families through hard times I think you should try it. Its not easy to transition back in to and you'll never know if you don't experience it for yourself!! I love my job.

I think we are the same exact person!!!

We had it multiple times during my BSN. There is a master's program at the school and professor was always trying to convince us informatics was the way to go. My school was Case Western Reserve University, but I dont think you can do it entirely online. On another note tonight on a different thread I saw a nurse was resigning from her informatics position and returning to bedside nursing. Perhaps you should connect with her! The thread was called "Just quit my job" and the user was CathyLew

You were not very polite on your other thread to the person who tried their hardest to give you a suggestion of what it may have stood for. Without the requested context, none of us will be able to give you anything except a guess.

I am in a long distance relationship and I know a few other women on my unit who are too. My coworkers are real sweet about it. I dont feel like it has impeded my 'bonding' with them. It would probably depend on your unit culture. We have a staff of about 120 nurses on my floor so perhaps the thought of one nurse moving away after a year or two of working doesn't have the same impact as it would on a small unit.

As you go through your clinical rotations you will get a better idea of where your interests lie. You may even discover that something you thought you would love is just not for you. If there is a specialty you feel you need more exposure to, try to set up a shadowing experience. And do keep in mind (especially with the current job market) that just because you start your career on one floor does not mean you have to dedicate your life to that type of nursing. Any experience is helpful. I knew I loved peds & ob but I still wasn't sure if NICU would be too heartbreaking. I did my senior practicum in a level III and discovered my passion. I love my babies and although there are extremely sad times, the joy of the success stories makes it worthwhile.

How about school nursing?

I was a sitter at a very large hospital while I was in nursing school. They staffed their sitter cases with people like me who were PRN, I had no obligation to holidays, weekends, or even a minimum number of hours. Very appealing to a student. They also had full-time sitters who worked regularly. All of us got shift differentials, all of us were in a float pool. The hospital float pool staffing office managed the staffing, individual units only contributed if they had an extra CNA. The sitter cases throughout the hospital were prioritized. I dont know the exact system. I know that cases within the children's hospital including Nutritional Insufficiency patients and suicidal patients throughout the hospital who need constant observation were always staffed before the confused patients were. At every staff meeting our boss was very adamant that our job was not "just to sit" and we were not "sitters" but "patient companions" because we were not to just be sitting. Sometimes we were short staffed, it happens even to nurses. They did use an agency to help fill sitter needs overnight. I think those sitters made a little bit more. I know the hospital preferred not to use them because it costs the hospital alot more than using one of their own employees. My take away message for you as a nurse would be to maintain your current attitude towards sitters. There was many a shift where I did not get a restroom break much less a dinner break because I was trapped in the room and no one would relieve me. Its frustrating to not be able to leave a patient in order to get them a bedpan (if there's not one in the room). It can be an unnecessarily stressful job when the rest of the staff don't consider you part of the team.

When I was little I used to come home from school and my mom would make me molasses milk... to drink. Pretty tasty. Never knew I was drinking an enema haha.

Your posts are rude and unnecessary. I work in the neonatal ICU, resuscitating infants who weigh as little as 500 grams. Does that mean I'm better than med-surg nurses? No. Absolutely. Not. If they didn't take good care of the older population, I would have to. Also, if one of my parents falls ill these experienced professionals will be the ones to care for my loved ones. Different types of nursing appeal to different people. It's not that complicated. Learn to respect others. If you truly want to change practice, you will need to work on your communication skills.

The only baby I have seen with one was a CDH'er post-op. But it was in Cleveland.

This thread is from 4 years ago, but I googled "first death as a NICU nurse" and this came up. I am a new grad and I had my first code today. It did not end well. I have cried very much, mostly just as a way to release all the love from my heart. I have also spent a lot of time thinking about the successful babies who overcome all odds. :redbeathe

Hey Steve, I have a question about Morgan Stanley (and other NICU's in the NYC area). I am hoping to relocate at some point for personal reasons. I was wondering, when there are RN positions open, and they are not interested in hiring new grads, how much experience would they expect? I am currently in a 66 bed level III NICU. I am hoping 1 year of experience would be enough to get me considered, but I also have a nagging feeling they might want a minimum of 2. Sorry this post is somewhat off topic. I appreciate this thread :)