babyRN0404

A little background... my current NICU (Level IIIB) is undergoing a large amount of turn-over and we are hiring like crazy. We have 60+ RNs and this year alone we have hired over 10 new nurses. Most who are new grads. We are running short on preceptors and some of the choices are questionable at best. My question: How much experience is required of preceptors in your unit? Thanks for your response!

Hello All, Just looking for some advice regarding which program to choose. Looking for people who are either currently in the program or went through it! Just curious to see how you all liked it! Nothing getting advice from people who have been through it themselves! Thank you!

We transport from a lot of hospitals with no NICU... therefore we get a lot of random things, from extreme prematurity to hypoglycemia.... never know what you are going to get. Some are kids barely holding on- rarely it is a quick transport like that.

I have worked in 2 NICUs- the first had a core group of Transport nurses that were on each shift- they were trained for transport- the staff would absorb their assignment (Charge would help). The second hospital everyone has to sign up once a month- it doesn't seem like many people do, it has turned into a core group of people. BUT everyone is expected to go on transport if needed, I have been a transport once, on orientation, and it was basically put leads on the kiddo and out the door (no lines, nothing special). As far as who goes- MD, RT and RN. Thanks for all of the response, funny of different transport can be from institution to institution.

Just wondering what everyones protocol is for training to be transport. Is everyone required to do it? Is there a special team in your NICU? Thanks!

Personally, I have had interest in becoming certified since I first became a nurse... that being said, the first hospital I worked at strongly encouraged it. Now that I've been in NICU for a year (before that L&D, M/B w/ level II NICU), I think I am going to start studying.... I really want to take it at the 2 year mark - may look good on an application for NNP school....

My advice: Make sure you ask them a lot of questions about the unit. Such as is there any current research? Are there students? When are you expected to go on transport? How long is orientation? Is there shared governance/do the nurses participate in committees that affect their practice? etc. Keep in mind you are interviewing them too! Good luck :)

I always dread the first time parents watch the temp getting taken, and the look of "how could you" from them.... goes away pretty quickly once I teach them how to do it themselves :) Although I have to say.... I wouldn't be a big fan of something that big (in comparison to their size) being shoved under my arm, I'm way to ticklish!

Don't be afraid to apply to jobs that say they require experience- "prefers m/b experience," etc. Worst thing they can do is send a rejection (and don't get too down when you get rejections...) Also, if you have any clinical experience relating to a m/b, NICU, L&D make sure you put that down on your resume!! Also, if you are still in school- try to set up a shadow day with a unit you are interested in- sometimes things aren't always what you expect.... m/b, peds, PICU and L&D would all be a good lead in to a NICU job.

I used to work on a high risk L&D unit.... they LOVED hiring nurses with ICU experience. :)

I would call the MD- That is why they get paid the big bucks... Also might help them to remember to check over their orders next time

hmm, the "calling".... I am a female RN and I work in an NICU... I fell into nursing by mere accident... I did not know what I wanted to do with my life at all, my Mom and Dad told me Nursing was a good field- always needed, becoming more in demand and not bad money... so I tried it out... I loved it, and working in a NICU is really a dream come true- but that is a different story all together. So, I guess it started out as a security issue, and now I really cannot ever see myself doing anything else... Most of the nurses I work with (they are all pretty close to retirement)- have said that it was one of the only professions that was interesting at the time- that was widely available to women (other than teaching...) Hope I answered your question...

Hello All, wondering if you could help me find a good book with tips for helping families/talking to parents in the NICU, etc. I feel I am very good at talking with parents but I also feel like I could improve- maybe get a few tips. Thanks :)

Report can be really tough to give in the NICU- what I've found is some nurses expect certain things and can be very particular- others are easy going. It WILL get easier. You are only 1/2 way through orientation, so try not to be so hard on yourself! Good luck, and I'm sure you are wonderful!

Whoops, do not give me your tears... haha! simple typo! thanks again!

Hi Boratz- I just DL-ed your Brains! Thanks so much for sharing! I start hospital wide orientation tomorrow and then on the unit the next day! The next 2 weeks will be on/off hospital classes/seminars and on the unit- so excited, and probably twice as nervous! I have worked in a level 2 nursery for 2 years (IVF, NC, abx, 33weeks or greater)- wish me luck! (And thanks again!!!!!) P.S. I have started reviewing/reading Merensteins & Gardner's handbook- any other suggestions?

6 weeks is not enough, I would talk to someone (educator, NM, preceptor, etc) to see if you can get more time/help. Also, I would look for a new job- you are not prepared and could risk your license. I'm not trying to scare you, but leaving a job early knowing it is not a right fit is a lot less risky than making a serious error because you did not have proper training.

Bobbkat what did you end up doing? I know you posted a loooonnnnnnggggg time ago. To update on what happened with me, well I regretted canceling the interview- at work I always want to go in the nursery and although I loved l&d i find i do not like the couplet mom/baby care as much. i love the aspect of critical care- focusing on 1-3 (depending on degree of illness) patients and putting your whole self into their care. I find taking care of 4 couplets is rewarding but I don't feel "needed"- not like in the nursery. So i decided to apply to another hospital (magnet, considered THE "baby hospital" of the area), had an interview, really clicked with the NM and was offered a job. Better hours, same pay. My husband wants to stick around in the area after he graduates so i figure i should just go for it! i haven't officially accepted yet, and i do have a tinge of fear- what if i'm not good, what if i'm asked to resign/fired- but in the end i feel like i have to do it. I have talked to my current NM and she told me that i should "go for it" and that although she would miss me that she was happy for me and could see me doing that. So i'm going to make my decision soon. I think before had i taken a job it would have been too early but I feel more ready now.

1. Who was your role model? -I didn't really have a role model when I started school, I sort of just went for it! When I did get an intern on an L&D unit I had about 20 role models!!! The nurses I worked with were so talented and really cared for their patients. I tried to take something from each one of them to try and better myself. 2. What was your motivation? -I REALLY wanted to become a nurse, I am very self driven and love feeling like a "accomplished" something, nothing feels more rewarding then getting a patient out of a crisis, or finally getting a baby to latch for the first time. It is really the small things. 3. What gives you satisfaction? -Same answer as the motivation. Just those small successes, they really make a difference in your work day. 4. What is your responsibility? -I am an RN on a Mom/Baby unit with a Level II nursery. I care for couplets (mom and baby) managing both of their cares, or I care for infants who are having a difficult time transitioning, or are late preterm (we take 32 weekers and up). The infants in the nursery are on cardiac monitors (with O2 monitoring). 5. What are your challenges and reward? -Challenges... Well i work for an under served population, which involves a lot of education and resource issues. A lot of my patients need government assistance once they go home to help pay for their children's needs. Also, I find a lot of my patients take awhile to trust me (and other nurses). They are very skeptical of the healthcare system. Sometimes I feel i have to prove myself before I am able to educate and help my patients. -Reward is feeling successful, and sometimes being recognized doesn't hurt either hope this helps!

it has been pretty bad the last 2 weeks on my floor!!! It definitely is the quiet before the storm, not to mention the OB/GYNs try not to schedule to much the week of Easter. Hoping it picks up- my co-workers always complain we're "over staffed" when this happens, but once it picks up there will be complaints of "under-staffing." haha. i'm sure people will start delivering like mad also- with economic recession comes a lot of births! the great depression lead to the baby boom!

does your school hand out the ATI books? I suggest starting there, also the school I went to had us do "practice" ATI test on MNB to let us know our trouble areas. If they didn't do that and you have a book you could try taking the quizzes at the ends of the chapters, if you feel good about it, move on, if not read the chapter a little more in depth. If no book, well study like you would for a final exam- find NCLEX type questions. Hope you do well!!!

ABCs then the 5th VS PAIN

well, i was drinking coffee before nursing school so does that count? i know a lot of nursing students who took adderall (buying it illegally) and would go on studying binges a day or two before a tough exam- didn't help them much- don't want to think of the long term effects... as for my coffee addiction (yum) it was my "break" i would have a coffee or tea break... really saved my mind!! haha

I wanted to thank you for your advice- I did get an interview, I set up the time to do it, but think I am going to cancel. For some reason I have it in my head that everything needs to be done now, my goal is to be a NICU RN, but I haven't not even been a RN for a year and am only 22 years old, plenty of time to figure it out. I would say I am comfortable in the Level II nursery- but not comfortable if that makes sense? I don't know how anyone can be comfortable around a baby the is desating every 15 min and the resident isn't returning a page. We do not do CPAP on our floor- the most is NC and not highflow. I feel I am always learning something new I started out as an intern in L&D which I really enjoyed but moved to M/B and level II nursery because I would like to do NICU and I thought that would be the best place- learn breastfeeding, care for premature infants/rough transition infants, as well as learn to see the whole picture- caring for the family. My hospital does not cross train to L&D, but this in another area I wouldn't mind going back to- I like the fast pace and more critical patients (another reason for wanting NICU). I work at a level 1 trauma center and it is a teaching hospital. The other hospital I applied to is very similar, but smaller (a lot of residents, no medical students). So I will keep you all updated with what happens, either way my husband finishes grad school in august of 2012 and we will be moving then- so really in addition to everything else, I have to ask myself, is it worth it to orient to a new hospital right now? I do not want to be labeled as a job hopper. Thank you so much for your advice.

So I'm having some issues i guess you could say... I am currently working as a Mother-baby RN on a floor that also has a special care nursery (Level II). So i get to work in both places! I really like my job, but my ultimate "dream" is to be a NICU RN. I have been working on my current unit is June 2010, so almost a year. Now there is a full time NICU RN position at the hospital I want to work at closer to home, I filled out the application so excited and then pressed submit. Now I am a little freaked out! All of the consequences slipped into my head almost immediately ! I feel like I am almost betraying my current hospital/unit ! I know how much it costs to train a new nurse and now I'm feeling guilty, and it is not like I even got an interview! For all i know I could get a rejection tomorrow! The other problem is that i am the "provider" for my husband and I right now as he is in graduate school and I'm also worried a new job would not work out (no doubt at all there...). I guess I am just hoping for some wise advice or encouragement. Anything would help! Thanks for reading!:redbeathe