Why did you choose to become a NICU nurse?

[carebearsRN]

I can read about NICU stuff all day long. I was inspired to work as a NICU nurse after my preceptorship at the unit. It was a Level III unit and I saw and learned so much from it. I'm still seeking a NICU job and wish to become an neonatal nurse one day. I never thought that I would love working with babies because I was the youngest in my whole family and never had a chance to play with them (which is why I used to get scared holding my friend's baby b/c I didn't know what to do! lol). Before graduation, we got to choose which unit we wanted for our preceptorship. Since I only visited the NICU for a day during my OB clinical at a small local hospital , which only had 4 beds , something made choose the NICU instead of ummm Med/Surg, ER, MICU like the rest of my classmates. Well anyway, after my preceptorship, I loved it so much because of the total care that was given to the sick newborns, the high technology involved, the dedicated & compassionate nursing staff, and providing support to the family. I always looked forward going to clinical every time even though I had to wake up at 4:30am for me to get there at 6:30. The NICU is truly special and I fell in love with it. That's my story and now I'm excited to hear from you all!

[babyNP., APRN]

I did my peds rotation in the fall quarter of my senior year and found that I loved the months old babies the most, but wanted to do ICU stuff, found out there was such a thing as a NICU, lobbied for it to our director, interviewed in February at two places, and had my practicum in the spring quarter for it and never looked back...

I can't imagine doing any other type of nursing at all. I adore my job :) the only thing is that I'm getting married in a few months and I keep thinking that I want a baby to take home now, lol. Hubby to be has convinced me we should wait a few years...

[ladyj5412]

I chose NICU because of a shadowing experience I did in a level IV NICU. A baby actually passed the day I was there, but it was amazing to see the level of care from the nurse I was shadowing and the other nurses on the unit. They all rallied around the parents and this child until the very end. She had a long, hard struggle and finally went to rest, but it was just an amazing experience in more ways than one.

[stralia13]

I chose to be a NICU nurse because of:

Last summer I got to do a volunteering job at a local hospital. My sister works there, and got me in to see the NICU babies, because my little cousin was there. I got to hold her, and something just "clicked". it was hard to explain, but I got this overwhelming feeling that this is where i was meant to be. Since then, i get to volunteer in the NICU, and do basic things... like hold them, feed the the healthier ones, etc. It's such an amazing experience, and i can't imagine doing anything else. I sorta feel as if it's my calling, but I'm still in Highschool. I've got a long way to go. :) but hey, we all start somewhere.

[Preemie 2 RN, ASN, RN]

I hope you don't mind me posting here..I am not a nurse yet but I inspire to be a NICU nurse. I can sit here all day and read on different things about the NICU and nursing in general. I can't wait to start nursing school and get closer to working as a nurse.

Why I want to be a NICU nurse is because I myself was born at 24 weeks of gestation. Being in and out of the hospital my whole life with different health issues has made me want to become a nurse in general but specifically a NICU nurse so I can help give support to those worried families and parents.

I actually am about to start orientation to volunteer in the NICU at a hospital near by. I know I won't be doing anything close to what nurses do but any experience helps.