cmary

That's interesting. When I made the move from level III to level IV, I only had one year of NICU experience. I was never asked if I had any surgical experience, they seemed thrilled that I even had just one year of NICU experience! I would think NICU experience would be much more valuable than general surgical experience. However, I practice on the east coast...

I think starting out as a new NICU nurse, you get your best experience from rotating shifts. There are things you experience on night shift that you do not on dayshift and vice versa. From my experience, most NICUs seem to hire new nurses into rotating positions for this reason. I do have friends in the adult world who started as new nurses on an adult med-surg units who were lucky enough to get steady daylight positions, though very unlikely.

When I was interviewed for NICU RN positions, I was asked to give examples of difficult situations I had encountered and what I did to better that situation. Prior to having true NICU RN experience, I reflected on situations I experienced during my work as a nurse's aid/tech, as an intern, and throughout my clinical rotations at school. I think focusing your answers with strong emphasis on family-centered care and overall ICU/critical care would serve you well.

Thanks again for the advice, BabyRN. I am trying to message you privately, but I am new and do not have 15 posts yet and so I'm not able to use this function! How frustrating!

I have always been required to have insurance while in nursing school through the NSO. I have since then graduated and started working. Should I obtain coverage through that organization as an RN, too? What type of coverage is recommended?

I think our garages cost upwards of $75/month, though we offer shuttle services from parking lots further away to have a less expensive option.

Took it in mid-June. Highly recommend taking Kaplan. Although I did not find the physical class too worthwhile, the questions and rationales were excellent. I averaged around 60-65% on all of the question trainers and only completed about 60% off the qbank questions (ran out of time). Learning how to approach difficult questions that Kaplan gives throughout its course definitely helped me reach success. Finished in 75 questions!

Last week (on orientation), I had a 24 wk/2 day old micro premie on the oscillator, a chronic infant with constant desats on NC O2, and a newborn r/o sepsis. A little steep for orientation...

I am just finishing up my orientation and have been warned by others that once I am off orientation, I will get a lot of the sicker babies, and LOTS of admissions. I guess their thought is to throw you right into it all, so that you get accustomed to these types of patients and environments. HOWEVER, I find this to be a bit unreasonable, and yes, unsafe. Shouldn't you progress into the types of patients you take care of? Last week (week 8 of my orientation) I had a stable 24 weeker (2 days old) on the oscillator, a chronic 90-day old baby on NC O2 with constant desaturations into the high 60s low 70s, and a pretty healthy newborn r/o sepsis who took PO feeds. Luckily, I was still orienting so I had the help of another nurse if/when I needed it. I felt very comfortable working with each baby, but having all 3 together seems crazy! What happens when the 24 weeker becomes unstable, or the chronic baby doesn't come up on his own after a major desat? I feel like our patient assignments have been so heavy, and makes me a bit nervous if I will be thrown right into these tougher assignments!

Wow, thank you! I'm looking to apply in the Philadelphia area, so right now I am looking at Thomas Jefferson and UPenn. I believe those are the only two schools in that area that offer the specialized Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. UPenn seems to have a shorter program that I could complete in a little over a year (full time) or in 2 years part time. I assume that UPenn would be very challenging to get into, though I graduated with my BSN with a 3.78 and would have level III NICU experience too (hoping that will help!). I will be contacting admissions soon. Do you have any thoughts on either of these programs? I absolutely do not want to stop working, and would hopefully be able to go part time or casual once school starts in the fall. Still not sure about full or part time school, thought I do like the idea of getting through the program as soon as possible. Any thoughts about full or part time? Thank you SO much for your insight.

Hi All- I just graduated with my BSN this past May, and started working in July in a level III NICU. I love the field I have chosen, but have always wanted to further my education. Ever since I began working, I have had older RNs tell me I am too young to stay "just a staff nurse." In addition, our patient:nurse ratios seem very heavy and unsafe, and the nurses I work with agree. All of this has really gotten me thinking about Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, more than ever before. I really love the role of the practitioners I already work with and wonder if it is too soon to apply and start school? If I apply by the spring, I could potentially start school next fall. I would only have 1 year of NICU RN experience going into this program, and am nervous that this is not enough. However, I understand PAs graduate without having much experience either. Going to school for my MSN, earlier rather than later, is appealing, too. I would rather get a jumpstart than put it on hold for a few more years. What are your thoughts? Applying for next fall too soon or reasonable?