Starting a NICU job!!!!!!!!!

[cherokeesummer]

I'm so very excited and pleased to announce that today I was offered and accepted a position as an RN in a level 4 NICU. I'm so excited! I graduate in July and will take NCLEX in August. I start orientation in September. It works out well b/c I'm trying to adjust to the idea of not being home with my son! I worked full time for years and then had a son and stayed home with him and finished out nursing school, was almost done when I got pregnant.

Anyway sorry to ramble on but I'm so excited! I know how hard it is for new grads to get into the NICU arena. I'm doing my senior preceptorship in a level 3 NICU now and I'm sure that helped alot in the decision.

I will be spending as much time as I can on these boards learning from the seasoned experts.

[littleneoRN]

In regards to the questions about L & D/NICU involvement...every hospital is different. I also work at a free-standing pediatric hospital that is directly across the street from an adult facility that does high-risk deliveries. If there is a known or suspected reason for need for NICU care, an NICU RN, nurse practitioner, respiratory tech, and sometimes MD attend the delivery at the adult hospital and do the resuscitation and transport. They will also fly out to other hospitals in our state and neighboring states for a delivery that cannot be delayed long enough to transport mom to the hospital. So, we have the joys and frustrations of working in a free-standing childrens hospital that also attends many deliveries (see previous posts about working in a childrens hospital vs. delivery hospital). A delivery hospital is usually an adult hospital that has an NICU but is not a childrens hospital and may sometimes (depending on the hospital) transport sicker babies to a children's hospital. Not all NICUs attend deliveries. If this is a specific interest of yours, it will be good to research this prior to applying to specific facilities or ask in interviews.

[marcopolo59]

you may not need one....infection control issues...where in maryland. I justleft university of maryland..great nicu...congratulations

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

In our NICU, the staff RNs attend high risk deliveries and all c-sections..so we do bring in some of our pts. Also an RT and MD or NNP is with us.

[AlishaCPJ]

I just graduated in May and will be working at a level III nicu in July. I have always wanted to be in the nicu and I completed my senior practicum at the same place I will be working. I love it there and I am so excited. I have also been home with my daughter who is now 10 months old and I am not looking foward to putting her in daycare:(

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Welcome to the site, Alisha. Congrats on the new job!

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

Welcome and congrats Alisha.