I told a classmate from my community college that I have decided to be a Neonatal Nurse. She said, "Oh, yeah...everybody that goes into nursing wants to be a neonatal nurse. It is very competitive to get in the NICU. You have to work on other floors for a couple of years and keep applying to work in NICU." That kind of bummed me out.
Is that true? Do most of you want to work in the NICU? I thought not everyone would like to work with such small babies. I figured most nurses would like patients who could actually speak or tell you what is hurting them. What type of nurse do you all hope to become?
Trauma most definitely. At least for a couple of years, then on to CRNA or CNS/NP not sure. Maybe DNP, but that's a long way away. All I know now is that I want something with high speed action, trauma, er or flight nursing. High stress, high demand, high levels of skill needed. Gotta feed the ADHD!!!
NO NICU, NO Peds. Life and death with babies and kids, no thanks. I admire those who can....my son was saved by the wonderful surgeons and NICU/PICU nurses at Vanderbilt, but I need my pt to understand why I am causing them discomfort: or outright pain! I am with Dani too NO psych...especially Geropsych some of those people are downright mean and unpredictable...plus as I said I need my pt to understand why I need to do things to them...and not fight me! I like the idea of fast paced or mentally challenging like ER or ICU.
I definitely do NOT want to do NICU or any kind of peds. I adore kids, I just don't want to care for sick children every day (but can I just say thank goodness for people who work in peds and nicu? You guys are awesome.) I am interested in maternity though, and plan to become a CNM eventually. I want to work in L&D for a few years first.
I am really torn between the NICU and the ED. I currently work as a tech in the ED of a non-trauma center hospital and would not consider that ED for a career. I need that adrenaline rush. I am still undecided which one I really want to go for but considering graduation is in two months I had better get to decidin'
I would work NICU. I enjoyed the day I got to preceptor there, but I am not setting my heart on it because I heard that it can be pretty hard to get a job there. I am mainly interested in Peds and plan to apply at a Children's Hospital. Those little people inspire me and I love their outlook on life. I know it won't always be happy, there are sad endings in every part of our job, but right now I feel that is where I am being pulled. Funny thing is, until I got in school...I thought Peds was the LAST place I wanted to go. I guess God has other plans for me.
Haha thanks for the responses. Some of you were funny like, "I would NEVER in a million years work in the NICU...oh, but good luck to you!" haha just kidding. You all made me feel better. I realize that I won't truly know where I want to work until I get on rotation and experience it first hand. I have my sight set on Neonatal, but it is nice to know I could be pulled in a different direction. I can't wait to put my all into this!
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
No, this is NOT true! Forgive my condescending tone again, but you shouldn't listen to classmates who probably have no experience as RNs working in the RN world. What do they know?
I have been a unit manager for a huge city hospital and involved in a new grad hiring program there. There are absolutely positions in NICUs for new grads. It's a matter of where they are. If you live is a large urban area where there are a number of hospitals with NICUs then you are likely to get a position.
As you approach your graduation date, that is 3 or 4 months before, you should start calling around to the local hospital nurse recruiters and inquiring about a job and specifically asking for a position in NICU. The nurse recruiters are the people who are going to give you the information you want. And, if one says they don't take new grads, move on to another hospital. The world has changed. In years gone by the hospitals used to require that new grads work for a year on a med/surg floor, but that is no longer true. New grads are being hired into the intensive care areas all the time now and hospitals have developed special training programs just for you new grads that do that. That's how much they want you. You should also start attending any job fairs that you see advertised in your area even if you are not ready to start accepting job offers. Reason: there is a great deal to learn from just talking with the nurse recruiters at these job fairs. They are not just looking for new employees, but also imparting information. You can never have enough information or make enough network contacts.
Daytonite, thank you for the information. I live in South Orange County. There are several hospitals around here but I don't know how hard or easy it is to get a job in the NICU. I'm sure in Los Angeles or San Diego there are more options, but I want to stay around here if possible. The girl I spoke with wasn't necessarily trying to discourage me, but it just kind of bummed me out thinking I'd have to struggle to get in the NICU because it's so "popular" you know? I just really want to work there right after receiving my BSN. That's my dream job.
No NICU for me. I am interested in neuro or oncology. I still have a while to get experience and figure it all out. There are lots of areas that might interest me. Don't you love the options and flexibility of nursing?!
No, this is NOT true! Forgive my condescending tone again, but you shouldn't listen to classmates who probably have no experience as RNs working in the RN world. What do they know?
Seriously!!!!
My classmates don't appear to have big butts, yet, you'd be surprised with the amount of stuff that they tend to pull out of their butts!
Always look at your source- and then wonder what their source is.
I actually haven't heard from even 1 of my classmates that they were interested in the NICU. (from the ones that i've spoken to) We have a few Peds, ER, OR, CCU, a handful of MCH and the rest will probably do med surg (either long term or just while they decide what other area they may be interested in).
Im looking into MICU/SICU. None of my classmates have expressed interest in the NICU. The only person I know that expressed interest in the NICU is a friend of mine who thought it would be easier to work there because its "less physically draining".
I love kids/babies, and when I did my L/D rotation I had the chance of spending two days in the NICU. It broke my heart to see those tiny premies hooked up to cables, needles and wires. Its emotionally draining. Like every unit, there are alot of ethical and moral issues to deal with, except in the NICU patients cannot speak for themselves at all. So, I commend you for having the strenght to pick such a field. Good luck!
Oh, if I ever need help with an IV I'll probably call you ... hehe!
Atheos
2,098 Posts
Trauma most definitely. At least for a couple of years, then on to CRNA or CNS/NP not sure. Maybe DNP, but that's a long way away. All I know now is that I want something with high speed action, trauma, er or flight nursing. High stress, high demand, high levels of skill needed. Gotta feed the ADHD!!!