Question from a new NICU nurse...

crazyaaa · Jun 14, 2007

Hi,Liz,first congratulations on starting in such a nice place.Not every NICU is so good.Like the place i'm staying now is similar to yours in that many staff with 10+ years experience,but the difference is new people here constant being put down by senior.I used to struggle so hard and now it's better but far from being good.

There are really lots of things to learn in NICU,and we learn many things only from experience.So i would really calm down at the beginning,doing all the assignments,working hard and keeping an eye on how tsituations being handled by experienced nurse.There will be a time that u can speak...

Cheers.

DC3RN · Jun 15, 2007

It is hard being the new nurse, but hang in there. Find a few that you really trust and they can really help you. Learn as much as you can by wathcing and reading etc. and you will gain respect. It sounds like you have a good start and a good attitude. I am sure you will do well. Denise

ccnicurn · Jun 22, 2007

not to worry...many units (not just the NICU) have the pecking order, which is established by nurses showing their skill level and professionality, which also only comes with experience. I know it is hard to be at the bottom, but as other posts have said, do your assignments, watch others, and be willing to absorb as much knowledge from the more seasoned staff. Usually, the more seasoned nurses take kindly to someone willing to learn, and they do afterall have an abudance of knowledge for you to tap into. You will see that after a while, you won't feel like such a newbie. Hang in there, keep loving your job, and soak up all you can!

MA Nurse · Jun 23, 2007

Hi all! I just started as a new grad in a great NICU program and have a question regarding the "pecking order" I have felt during these first few weeks. Many of the nurse's in my unit have been there 10+ years and the ongoing joke is that no one will move up unless someone in management dies. Everyone is extremely nice and helpful but most of the time I feel like I am "the baby RN" on the floor and get a lot of pats on the head. I count my blessings that I am in an area that i love and have such a great supportive staff but I am used to being listened to by my peers or faculty and now it's more of a "seen but not heard" environment. No one has been mean or put me down but when I come up with an idea I get that "oh, how cute, the new grad has an opinion" look or its like I didn't even speak.
Is this normal for such a specialized area? I luckily am one of those people that doesn't get to worked up about this kind of stuff and I have had a few nurses tell me "It's all about knowing your role right now". I have only been on the unit for two weeks.
Liz

You're not alone. I worked in a NICU for 16 years and I was in the bottom 10 of seniority on the PM shift! Nobody left, hardly ever. And I was stuck working every major holiday! You might want to get your experience there for at least a year, and then if you find they aren't advancing you and you're working every holiday and can't get off night shift...it might be time to look for a new NICU that has more flexible managers. I went to a newer NICU and it helped my situation a lot. I am doing more and getting more days off.

Good luck.