Transferring from ICU to NICU

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2017

We moved your thread to our NICU Nursing forum for more replies.

https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 22, 2017

I had a co-worker that wanted to go to CRNA school. He ended up transferring to an adult ICU unit to get the experience for CRNA school. I don't know if he felt that he needed adult experience to help him in school or the school required Adult ICU experience and NICU experience didn't count.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Mar 22, 2017

I'm a little bit confused by your post--did you actually work in adult ICU, or did you turn the position down? Are you still planning to attend CRNA school?

Like Guy said, most CRNA schools don't count NICU as 'ICU experience.' It can supplement your adult ICU experience on your application, but it definitely can't replace it. Babies, especially preemies, are so different from adults that the knowledge base, skill set, assessment findings, and interventions barely overlap.

That brings me to my second point: transitioning to NICU can be a challenge for experienced adult nurses. It's definitely doable, but you have to prepare yourself for feeling like a new grad again. You have to 'un-learn' much of your adult experience and 're-learn' babies.

So, if your ultimate goal is still to attend CRNA school, you'd have to 'un-learn' adults and learn babies in the NICU, then 'un-learn' babies and 're-learn' adults in CRNA school. That sounds like you'd be setting yourself up for confusion, rather than using your ICU experience as preparation for CRNA school.

NICU is incredibly rewarding, and plenty of nurses absolutely love it. I'd recommend browsing through the hundreds of old NICU forums; you'll find a wealth of information about the benefits and challenges. Also, many of the grievances you described (lack of supplies, management issues, under-staffing) can happen in NICU, just like in the adult world.

DextersDisciple, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2017

Hi Guy. All the of CRNA schools in my area do not count NICU experience, just adult ICU so yes you are correct. I didn't word this too well, basically I won't be able to afford CRNA school for at least 2-3 yrs if at all.

Basically, do adult critical nurses transitioning to neonatal tend to love it or regret it?

DextersDisciple, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2017

I'm a little bit confused by your post--did you actually work in adult ICU, or did you turn the position down? Are you still planning to attend CRNA school?
Like Guy said, most CRNA schools don't count NICU as 'ICU experience.' It can supplement your adult ICU experience on your application, but it definitely can't replace it. Babies, especially preemies, are so different from adults that the knowledge base, skill set, assessment findings, and interventions barely overlap.
That brings me to my second point: transitioning to NICU can be a challenge for experienced adult nurses. It's definitely doable, but you have to prepare yourself for feeling like a new grad again. You have to 'un-learn' much of your adult experience and 're-learn' babies.
So, if your ultimate goal is still to attend CRNA school, you'd have to 'un-learn' adults and learn babies in the NICU, then 'un-learn' babies and 're-learn' adults in CRNA school. That sounds like you'd be setting yourself up for confusion, rather than using your ICU experience as preparation for CRNA school.
NICU is incredibly rewarding, and plenty of nurses absolutely love it. I'd recommend browsing through the hundreds of old NICU forums; you'll find a wealth of information about the benefits and challenges. Also, many of the grievances you described (lack of supplies, management issues, under-staffing) can happen in NICU, just like in the adult world.

Sorry for the confusion! I am currently working in adult ICU for almost a year now. I didn't think about all the un-learning and re-learning that would follow with transferring to NICU. I'm finally starting to feel competent in adult ICU, I do not miss orienting like a new grad! Your advice really helps. I think I'll stay where I am, thank you :up:

as for the grievances, I was just

hoping they would be better: like my biggest pts being in the double digits, not the triples. :banghead:

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Mar 24, 2017

Sorry for the confusion! I am currently working in adult ICU for almost a year now. I didn't think about all the un-learning and re-learning that would follow with transferring to NICU. I'm finally starting to feel competent in adult ICU, I do not miss orienting like a new grad! Your advice really helps. I think I'll stay where I am, thank you
as for the grievances, I was just
hoping they would be better: like my biggest pts being in the double digits, not the triples.

So this may be totally out of left field, but if you're not totally sold on CRNA school you could consider becoming a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP). They're one of the best paid NP specialties (not including CRNAs, who aren't really NPs), and there's some overlap with the CRNA scope: intubation and airway management, titrating complex drips, etc. NNP school requires two years of NICU experience for consideration.

DextersDisciple, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

So this may be totally out of left field, but if you're not totally sold on CRNA school you could consider becoming a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP). They're one of the best paid NP specialties (not including CRNAs, who aren't really NPs), and there's some overlap with the CRNA scope: intubation and airway management, titrating complex drips, etc. NNP school requires two years of NICU experience for consideration.

wow I never knew much about NNP's scope of practice. I didn't think any NPs would be involved with intubation and gtt titration. This sounds right up my alley! Is the NNP program duration similar to other NP programs? I could still work and my hospital would provide tuition assistance, sounds great

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2017

I just transferred from adult surgical to NICU - and i definitely feel like a new grad again. Pretty much nothing transferred over in terms of skills and knowledge. Except ostomies....that's pretty much the only thing I feel confident in because it's the same lol