obprof

LOL!!!!:yelclap: The parents always think I am really hurting their baby, ie. breaking the kiddo's arm by holding it.

My unit uses the RAM cannula a lot too and I really like it! From what I understand, the RAM decreases the risk of lung disease more than intubation does. I haven't seen babies struggle too much with it on my unit, unlike yours though. And you can easily switch from CPAP to SIMV or vice versa. The only negative thing I've noticed with RAM CPAP is how much oral care the babies need for all of the "frothing" that occurs. I need to suction their mouths out well with every set of cares. For more information, I think the Neonatal Nurses' conference in Chicago in Sept is having a lecture on the RAM if you're going. After the conference you can purchase the lectures too.

BIG CONGRATS BORTAZ!!! There is no doubt you are an AWESOME nurse and it would be the unit's loss to lose you! Kudos from a fellow NICU nurse!

Yup. I like it for Postpartum and NICU, but hate it for L&D.

Hi all, I have a couple of quick questions. I was taught to take out an OG during nippling feedings with a bottle, but some of the staff are leaving them in (#5 Fr). I thought they can cause the baby to aspirate if left in. What is your unit's protocol? Also, with cleft lip/palate kiddos, what bottle(s) do you use...Haberman, Cleft lip & palate (lamb), or other? Our speech therapist told us that Haberman's are the only one that should be used. What is your practice? Thanks!

Congrats!

I really loved it and miss it at times! We left because my husband was downsized from his biotech position and I was 7 mo pregnant so we moved back to Madison, WI where I am from. Living here is easier with kids, although I do miss the Bay Area. It is a special place!

On the March of Dimes website there are some statistics on preemies and mortality/morbidity stats too.

I lived in SF for about 7 years and went to grad school with a woman who worked in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Berkeley; she then became the CNS there. I don't know if she is still working there or not, but she really loved it. Children's also has a great reputation as being one of the best hospitals too! Good luck~

As a NP, I can assure you that grad school is DEFINITELY harder than undergrad (Master's or DNP)and I would worry about you being able to work FT, care for your kids, AND do school?? I think you also need to get experience before going back for graduate work. I would recommend waiting until you get more of your loans paid off, all of the kids are in school full-time, and you are able to cut back on your hours at work before pursuing grad school. I DO think that getting a DNP is better than a Master's since so many places are getting rid of the Master's programs anyway and then you'll be competing against those who have a DNP for positions if you only do a Master's. Good luck in your decision!

As a former nursing instructor and as a nurse who has 24 yrs of experience, I have some strong feelings about this. I recently took a new position for me in the NICU and was treated very badly from one of my preceptors. It is completely NOT appropriate to be talked to in a sarcastic or aggressive manner and it's not an issue of "just don't take it to heart". That is exactly the type of attitude taken with people experiencing verbal abuse and what they are told. The attitude being, "You're just being overly sensitive". It's called "lateral violence" and it's just not appropriate. HOWEVER, after having said that, try to see if the content of the message is correct and/or how it is being communicated. Perhaps you are being too slow to be able to function on the unit and you should work on time-management skills? Ask for advice on how you may be able to do that. If it is being said to you in an inappropriate manner, address that with the preceptor. For example, you can say,"So you are saying I am slow. I am interested in improving my time-management skills, can you give me some suggestions on helping that without being so sarcastic about it?" Or something along those lines. I had to do this with my preceptor and she really did improve. She gave me advice without being so mean about it. I think part of it may be lack of patience in the preceptor. The other issue I have seen is that some nurses just aren't good educators/preceptors. Often they are only chosen because they have a lot of experience, NOT because they are good teachers. If it is really bad and she doesn't change after you have addressed it with her, I would recommend discussing this with your nurse manager or clinical nurse specialist and see if you can have a different preceptor. Once I got off orientation, my situation improved immensely and I was glad I stuck out the four month orientation. I was so close to quitting and going back to teaching college, but really wanted to be a NICU nurse and am glad I am! Hope this helps you in your situation!

Pink-collar. A women's dominated service profession. I used Wikepedia for my definition. White-collar usually refers to office workers and Blue-collar refers to manufacturing.

As a nursing professor, I say definitely apply for the BSN programs. Some states are beginning to get rid of ADN programs altogether; some hospitals (such as those with Magnet status or university hospitals) will only hire BSNs and the competition now for jobs is really tough. The private school will probably be easier to get into than the public one and there will be more hand-holding there, but it will be a lot more expensive. Good luck in your decision!

Actually, I made LESS than that with a Master's degree teaching BSN nurses at a university. The only reason I taught nursing was so I could be home with my son and grade papers. So, a degree doesn't necessarily mean you get more pay. I'm back to staffing at a hospital and working night shift so I can pay for college for my kids and earn some retirement money. Good luck in your decision!

Sounds very unsafe to me! I've only cared for mag pts in L&D.

Sorry, I've never heard of this... I've seen WHNPs work on GYN surgical units though and function like a PA.

Birth Center We heart (picture of a heart) babies! That's the slogan we have on our NICU. We have black jackets with the slogan that we can wear over our scrubs.

O.B. R.N. where you are B.O.R.N.

Amen umcRN! And I thought it was difficult to work L&D with all of the "natural birth plans" that mothers insist on even if the baby's heartrate is crashing or she's hemorrhaging! (Don't get me wrong, I tried to have as natural of a birth as possible with my daughter. But, I'm not so rigid).

Thanks Ashley! That's really helpful!:loveya:

How do you guys deal with parents who want to "micromanage" your nursing care? Lately on my unit we have parents who want to tell the nurses how to do their job like when and how to wean their child from the isolette, that they want medication for their child because they are convinced they have GI reflux, or that their child is in pain because it is crying (not because it is hungry and wants to eat now), etc? They will also rush in and pick up their baby despite the nurses telling them that it isn't time to do cares yet and their baby needs to sleep to gain weight. It doesn't seem to matter how much patient education we do, either. They are driving me nuts!

I disagree...starting an IV in NICU is REALLY HARD too! :)

I went to UCSF in San Francisco and LOVED the program. I don't think they have a WHNP program anymore, but changed to a FNP program. I have to admit I have found it hard to find positions as a WHNP and wish I had education in primary care because I found women come to you looking to be treated for other issues, not just women's health issues. Hope this helps!

Wise move! There will be other positions...hang in there~

Thanks everyone for your help! The meeting with the manager went well. I told her I was sorry and that I now make a habit of checking the feeding pumps every hour along with the IV pumps, etc. When I forgot to start the pump, it had been 4 hours idle. Fortunately, I haven't made any mistakes since! And I am better organized and more "OCD" about checking everything!