Which NICU to work at in Atlanta- Northside or Children's?

[bethm7]

I am a experienced Level 3 NICU nurse. I have almost 12 years exp. Originally from Boston area... worked at Childrens Boston. Have lived in Cali for past 8 years, was a travel nurse then been staff at a large 84 bed NICU at a Childrens Hospital. My husband and I are thinking of relocating to Atlanta for his job and therefore I will be looking for a job also. I really like taking care of very high acuity but also attend deliveries, stabilize without a neo present and place umbilical lines. I dislike chronic feed growers but understand that is part of nicu. I really like complex hearts, surgical kids and micropreemies that are very sick. I have done charge and precepted.

I am looking for not only the NICU that meets what I want clinically but socially too. I am 34, married with a 3 year old. We socialize frequently with my coworker and their families. I want a unit that has that same feel. Younger nurses that enjoy working with each other.

Anyone who work at these NICU's or even these hospitals I would LOVE their input...

esp regarding payscale, benefits, scheduling, flexibility with scheduling, how the managers are, childcare, how new the units are? My hospital is only 15 years old and has very nice technology.

We will probably live in the North atlanta area- likely Buckhead or Brookhaven.

[quittaRN]

I work at Childrens both Scottish and Egleston. I although they are not at big of a unit at what you are used to they do get a lot of high acuity patients. Since they are children's hospitals there is no L&D so we do not attend deliveries and all of our patients are transfers so we get a lot of patients that have been grow (if they are stable enough the primary hospital will keep patient to grow them for surgery) but we do get a lot of micropreemies so I dont think you will have a problem there. Northside is known as the baby center so you will definitely get your fill there of high acuity patients but childrens at Egleston does ECMO so they will get a lot of high acuity patients as well. Also childrens has great benefits and competitive pay and the people are wonderful we work together which is why I am still here. Good luck making a decision. Hope this hels.