2 Weeks and Counting

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

I start orientation in 2 weeks and something just dawned on me:smackingf. Alot of the equipment I currently have are useless now with the exception of my bandage scissors and pen light. My stethoscope is way to huge to listen to itty bitty chests with.

Do I NEED to get an infant stethoscope or should I expect to have one to use on the unit? Is there anything else needed/suggested/wish to have?

I also wonder if it would be inappropriate to ask the unit manager if I could shadow for a few hours before I actually start. 2 weeks until corporate orientation, plus carelink, and whatever else LOL.

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Orientation usually includes shadowing doesn't it? If not I think it would be not only appropriate but wise to ask for it...

As for the steth, I'm sure you can find one on the unit or borrow for the first couple of days and then decide if you need a new one. I have a cardiology III which has the peds size and its nice but I'm sure the peds scopes are better for NICU kind of thing...consider it a "I got a new job" pat on the back to yourself.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Most units provide a stethoscope for each baby. I would buy a small calculator. Don't worry about shadowing... that's what orientation is for, you super-excited girl!!

Enjoy your 2 weeks.....

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

most NICUs have dedicated scopes. ditto on the small calculator. i'd get 2 pairs of hemostats, but you can grab them out of a procedure tray sometime. i keep a pencil box at my 'desk' with post its, pens, pencil, highlighter, tape, stapler, and scissors in it.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Not much use for the bandage scissors, either, in my experience! Never use them to cut off an arm/footboard--peel off the tape instead. Or tear it. Sometimes you can't see where all those liitle fingers and toes are, and you CAN cut off something important w/scissors. Yes, I really have seen the results. Usually the only thing I use scissors for is to cut the bands off @ d/c. Or to open the coffee packet--very imp't! ;)

You're not gonna start work the very 1st day, are you? Most places give you some classroom time 1st. Then you can check out what other people use. One nurse I knew kept rubber bands in a little change purse--tourniquets!

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm in your boat too! I just finished a week long "welcome to the hospital" and "here's some basic stuff about how to be a peds nurse."

Next week I have 2 twelve hour classroom days (12 hours? Yikes! thank goodness they decrease it to 8 hours after this week) and my first shift with my preceptor will be next Saturday, so excited! :)

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

I've just qualified as well. I have an entire week, starting Monday, of hospital induction and mandatory training. Then next Monday, I have an entire day of nurse induction. And then I start on the NICU/NNU. My unit normally offers new staff as long as they need (up to four weeks, I think) of supernumary status, but since I was on the unit for three months as a student and then have continued to do bank/prn shifts, they don't think I need that - so in head first for me it seems!

As for stethoscopes, our unit has them for every baby, too. There's pretty much everything for each baby. I carry a couple of pens, a tiny notepad, my fob watch and my calculator.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.
Most units provide a stethoscope for each baby. I would buy a small calculator. Don't worry about shadowing... that's what orientation is for, you super-excited girl!!

Enjoy your 2 weeks.....

gee, is it THAT obvious :anpom:

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.
Not much use for the bandage scissors, either, in my experience! Never use them to cut off an arm/footboard--peel off the tape instead. Or tear it. Sometimes you can't see where all those liitle fingers and toes are, and you CAN cut off something important w/scissors. Yes, I really have seen the results. Usually the only thing I use scissors for is to cut the bands off @ d/c. Or to open the coffee packet--very imp't! ;)

You're not gonna start work the very 1st day, are you? Most places give you some classroom time 1st. Then you can check out what other people use. One nurse I knew kept rubber bands in a little change purse--tourniquets!

The first week is hospital orientation. I don't know yet how much "classroom" time there will be. I know that the nurse educator does try to send new nurses to some of the classes at the sister hospital downtown which is the children's hospital with a 90+ bed NICU. I do hope there is classroom time, especially since this is critical care. And seriously, I not that good feeding a well baby let alone a sick one.

Its going to be an interesting transition, going from caring for adults to caring for littles. When I did my preceptorship at the pediatric ER I was told by several parents that I was very good with children, that I really should work there...even the ones who were ****** that we weren't taking care of their child fast enough.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.
I'm in your boat too! I just finished a week long "welcome to the hospital" and "here's some basic stuff about how to be a peds nurse."

Next week I have 2 twelve hour classroom days (12 hours? Yikes! thank goodness they decrease it to 8 hours after this week) and my first shift with my preceptor will be next Saturday, so excited! :)

Oh my I KNOW I'd need coffee. Its bad enough I have to get up at 5am to get to hospital orientation by 7am. Did I mention I am so NOT a morning person? :yawn:

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