Should I Stay or Should I Go

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Aug 31, 2021

To begin with, you are a new grad nurse. All new grads are going to feel anxious about starting their nursing career. Second, you are starting out in the NICU. Nursing school has practically zero training on NICU nursing care, so your statement about feeling like you didn't go to nursing school is correct because it did not prepare you for NICU as a new grad nurse which will add to your anxiety level.

It took me around 18 months post hire to begin to feel competent in the job even with a 135 hr Capstone placement in a Level IV NICU during nursing school. As you get more experience, your confidence will go up and anxiety level will go down. My advice is to look for an experienced nurse as a mentor. They can give you feedback and suggestions as to how you can improve post-orientation.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2021

I will add, a lot of NICU nurses get pretty protective of their patients - we're their main advocates really, since they can't speak up for themselves and their parents generally know a lot less about them than we do - which may be coming off as harsh in your preceptor. I'm not saying it's ideal, but it is a thing. May be worth talking to your educator if you think there's a genuine clash in personality, but bear this fact in mind.

And I second the opinion that you need WAYYY more than 10 or even 16 weeks in a level 3 NICU to begin to feel any sort of comfortable or confident. It's a world that very few people ever see and schools almost never give you a peek into it. In a way, it's almost good that you feel "stupid" - it means you understand how little you know coming into it (it's the overconfident new grads that are scary to preceptors) and shows you how much room you have to grow.

ElleArrghN · Jan 3, 2022

The answers you've gotten already are great. I wanted to add something I wish someone had told me when I graduated from nursing school! Your first year will feel like you are still in school no matter where you go! ESPECIALLY in such a specialized area like the NICU.
Find your resources and use them - your resources within the system you can look up to find meds and protocols AND the people you can turn to for help with things you aren't sure about. There are always people willing to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Find that mentor. Ask for a "buddy" after orientation if your manager will allow that...someone who you can match your schedule to and can be a resource and back-up for you for a certain number of weeks while you get your feet under you. Give it a little time. 2 or 3 months isn't going to tell you much except that you are overwhelmed! In 6 or 7 months you'll get a better feel of things. In a year or so, you'll start to feel more like a nurse and not so much like a nursing student!

nursingrules · May 15, 2022

On 9/28/2021 at 9:02 PM, Coffee Nurse said:

I will add, a lot of NICU nurses get pretty protective of their patients - we're their main advocates really, since they can't speak up for themselves and their parents generally know a lot less about them than we do - which may be coming off as harsh in your preceptor. I'm not saying it's ideal, but it is a thing. May be worth talking to your educator if you think there's a genuine clash in personality, but bear this fact in mind.

And I second the opinion that you need WAYYY more than 10 or even 16 weeks in a level 3 NICU to begin to feel any sort of comfortable or confident. It's a world that very few people ever see and schools almost never give you a peek into it. In a way, it's almost good that you feel "stupid" - it means you understand how little you know coming into it (it's the overconfident new grads that are scary to preceptors) and shows you how much room you have to grow.

Hi @Coffee Nurse, I saw your post about working at UCLA as a new grad in the NICU, and I was wondering if you still work in the NICU there? Thank you!!

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · May 15, 2022

11 hours ago, nursingrules said:

Hi @Coffee Nurse, I saw your post about working at UCLA as a new grad in the NICU, and I was wondering if you still work in the NICU there? Thank you!!

No, I left about a decade ago. The unit is amazing but I was done living in LA.

nursingrules · May 15, 2022

1 hour ago, Coffee Nurse said:

No, I left about a decade ago. The unit is amazing but I was done living in LA.

Thank you so much for replying! I was wondering if there was a way I could connect with you privately to talk more about the unit? I heard they haven’t taken new grads in 7 years. I have an interview there to work as a new grad and would love some advice! I know it has been awhile since you left, but any advice would be amazing!

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · May 15, 2022

1 minute ago, nursingrules said:

Thank you so much for replying! I was wondering if there was a way I could connect with you privately to talk more about the unit? I heard they haven’t taken new grads in 7 years. I have an interview there to work as a new grad and would love some advice! I know it has been awhile since you left, but any advice would be amazing!

Sure, if you like.

nursingrules · May 15, 2022

6 minutes ago, Coffee Nurse said:

Sure, if you like.

Thank you! How should I message you?

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · May 15, 2022

3 hours ago, nursingrules said:

Thank you! How should I message you?

DM is fine.