zeus&lincoln

No unfortunately they received 6-10 weeks depending on the units they were coming from ...therefore a PICU nurse would ideally get less training time than an adult trained RN. However, on my unit this is really done case by case. The GNs on my floor...

I have been a NICU nurse since I was a new grad... Couldn't see myself doing anything else... In fact, I would have probably gone back to teaching had I not been fortunate enough to land a position with my babies right after graduation... However, th...

Kiddos eat and are assessed either 8,11,2,4 or 9,12,3,6 unless they are ad lib or in a 3 baby assignment. We do full hands on our first and third touch times unless kid is sick and needs more invasive/frequent monitoring.Sugars done q12 on any kid wi...

Haha! I've clearly been working with the little bambinos too long because the only reason I even opened this thread is because I thought they were talking about the NICU. Ha! Your post gave me the biggest giggle!

We make kiddos NPO two hours prior to transfusion, infuse blood over 3-4 hours (unless emergent) and keep infant NPO 2 hours post infusion. If kiddo was eating prior to transfusion and on TPN/IL, we increase TPN rate, our IL rates do not get touched-...

Yup, I am totally guilty of calling them kiddos, peanuts, twinkies (for twins), tiny humans, and a slew of other grossly adorable and endearing names. :) NICU nurses are a strange and amazing breed of human... Wouldn't want to be anything else.

Hello, Good luck to you. I currently work 3 12s in the NICU and am in Drexel's program. I will say the time commitment is doable now (I'll preface that by saying I don't have any kids). I haven't begun clinicals but will drop down to part time if I a...

How is it possible that most level iv NICU babies in your hospital are feeders and growers? Why would your hospital give them a distinction of level 4 instead of 2? This is a genuine question, I've never heard of this.

From my experience many NICUs, even level 3 or 4 are more than willing to train new graduates into this speciality. So, if you desire to be in the NICU, find a nurse residency program and apply. It can and does happen... All the time!

You are going to be training for both L&D and NICU? Not that it can't be done, I've just never heard of any hospital doing it because of how specialized both of those areas are. Is your NICU a level III or IV? Just curious... Good luck to you! Fo...

Hello Vicky- I think the deadline was July 1st- I thought about applying June 28th, sent in my app on the first and heard 3 weeks later. Financial aid is very easy. I sent in my fafsa and gave them by employers name since they pay for a percentage s...

Thanks for responding... I kind of figured that's how it would be... But it is nice to hear it again :). I also think there are so few people in my track which makes it a bit more difficult to form connections but that is fine... I think there are on...

Hello there, I just started at Drexel this Fall... I actually just turned in my final paper for one of my classes today and my final exam for patho is this Wednesday! I too live in Central Florida...So we are neighbors. :) My thoughts on the program ...

Yup, what babynp said... And not to mention some of our mamas are on a lot of drugs, so while it may be in some instances appropriate to give that milk to a neonatal drug withdrawal baby it is not appropriate for a "regular" newborn.

Our scanners print out labels for each infant.

Nursing school is far different than real world nursing. Being a good nursing student doesn't always translate to being a good bedside nurse. In my opinion a good orientation is necessary to make anyone a good nurse on a particular floor. As far as n...

Teacher turned nurse here

Only our transport nurses, NNPs and neos place them at my hospital for the reasons described in the 2nd post of this thread.

Once you become a nurse and get on the floor, you'll notice that the same 20-30 Meds are prescribed (depending on the unit could be more or much less). You'll learn those Meds exceptionally well by giving them so many times and the new Meds that you'...

Nope! Some hospitals have training sessions that you can partake in others allow your preceptor to guide you in this process.

Those drugs are given together all the time... Think about it our smallest peanuts need the caffeine bc they are the most at risk for bradying (we will wean them off of this med before they go home... We don't send a kid that's bradying home)... Simi...

Yes... Being on a jet or oscillator is EXTREMELY painful and agitating!!! Imagine you having a tube placed in your throat that is beating into you upwards of 300 breaths a minute... oUCH! My biggest pet peeve is seeing Ativan and pain Meds not given ...

Disagree with the above comment "C's are for degrees"... Yeah you may get the degree but that doesn't mean you'll pass boards and better yet if you want to go to grad school those grades are not competitive for any reputable school. I know it wasn't ...

^^ Since I've been in nicu I've given heparin once... We don't use it unless absolutely necessary. Also forgot to add insulin to my list both independent doses and as a drip.

These are the most used Meds in my level 3 nicu... 1. Amp/gent 2. Caffeine 3. Fluconozole- every baby with a PICC has this until PICC is DC'd for prophylaxis 4. Polyvisol 5. Morphine 6. fentenyl 7. Versed 8. Ativan 9. Hydrocortisone 10. Iron 11. D...