NICU~RN

Is it legal to make nurses sign up for more shifts than their hourly pointage? For example if your .75 can your work mandate more shifts over that?

I was exactly where you are a few months ago. I love my unit, but got put on nights in May, I got pregnant in June. I fell into a complete depression, crying on all my days off, crying because I had to work, just not myselfat all. I put in to switch to days and I finally was able to switch in October. I did not feel better in my second trimester on nights as some said would happen. I just continued to feel worse each day. Even though days are busier, I feel SO much better. It's seriously life changing how much better I feel. I don't know how much longer I could have worked this pregnancy on nights, and now I feel SO renewed .

Thanks for all your input guys, I'm leaning towards staying part time nights. I forgot to also mention though that if I stay full time I would get 25,000$ of my school loans paid off over 5 years. I am ok with not receiving that to spend more time with my baby, but it is a hard pill to swallow

Hi, I am currently working full time nights and am expecting my first child soon. I have the choice to either move to full time day shift or stay on nights after the baby. If I stay nights it would only be 2 12's a week, and the husband and I wouldn't have to use daycare much if at all. If I work days we would need to utilize daycare. Both will bring home the same amount of $ each month in the end. I'm worried if I choose nights I won't be able to adjust with a newborn, and will constantly feel like a zombie, although night shift will offer me more time to pump while at work. And if I chose days I will regret being away from home too much although my sleep will be on a more normal schedule. Anyone been through this and have some advice for me? I'm not sure which route to choose and it is causing me some major anxiety

Hi! I am so excited to say I have finally been given the opportunity to interview in a level 4 nicu! I have worked in the post anesthesia care unit for the past 4 months and am a new grad. My hospital opened up a new grad nicu position and I put in for a transfer and have been selected to interview. Working with the neonatal population as well as the families of those patients is a dream of mine and is the reason I became a nurse, so needless to say I am so excited ! I wanted to know since I have not worked with babies since nursing school, what things should I brush up on, and what types of questions should I prepare for my interview? I really want to be prepared, as I don't want to let this opportunity pass by. thanks guys!

Thanks for the encouragement. Do you think one year is long enough to work before putting in for a transfer? im feeling frustrated because I'm working 50+ hour weeks right now so I can be trained to take on call time and am feeling like it will be all for nothing once I transfer. I hope that L&D will like my experience and want to hire me, because that is my ultimate goal and passion

Hi, I am wanting/needing some advice, wisdom, support or tough love. I am a new grad who just started my first job at a local large hospital. I have always wanted to work in L&D. This was my passion since before I even knew I wanted to become an RN. Through school, it's all I thought about, and I couldnt wait to become a L&d nurse. I graduated top of my class and did my final preceptorship in L&D. Once I graduated I found out I had to move states. When I finished moving, I began to apply for jobs. Every L&D job in my area wanted at least a year of RN experience. I got very very lucky getting hired in the unit I am at (ICU) but it is not in L&D. The unit im working at never hire's new grads, and agreed to hire and train me. Although I love the people I work with, and my job is great, I can't shake the feeling that this is not my passion, I am in the wrong specialty. My passion is in women's health, labor and delivery. I want to become a midwife eventually. I plan on giving this unit around 2 years of work before seeking out L&D jobs since they were so kind to train me. I am also planning on becoming a doula in the meantime to keep my foot in women's health. I am trying to keep my head up, and believing that soon I will be able to work in the area I am passionate about. I know some nurse managers look down on applicants who apply to a position if they have not been at their current job for over a year yet. I am so thankful for my job and his experience I am getting, and I know many have not been so lucky in the job market.What would you say is a good amount of time to work and get experience before I apply to L&D? How can I keep myself marketable to the L&D managers?