Yay, I will finally be a volunteer!

[live4rachael]

I am applying for an accelerated BSN nursing program next year (to begin in Fall 2008) after I finish my 3 science pre-reqs. But in the meantime, I had an interview today to begin volunteering - my interest is totally with babies... and I will start in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU (they called it PCICU).

I was told I'll mainly be soothing them, whether I'm rubbing their heads or singing/reading to them, and I'll get to hold them once in a while (those that are able to be held). They still have to do my background check - which won't be a problem - and my orientation is in 3 weeks, and I should be able to start immediately aftewards. I am SO excited!

On the tour today, there were 10-12 newborns, all swaddled up. It's a fairly new floor. The tour I had was with the volunteer coordinator, but I didn't get to talk to the nurses yet so I wasn't able to ask many floor-specific questions. But I can't WAIT. :)

So... What can I expect to see in the PCICU?

And on these boards - does this area fall under PICU or Cardiac ICU?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Not a PICU or CVICU nurse, but just wanted to say congrats on your placement. Sounds like an exciting opportunity to learn more about a great specialty!

[masstudent]

I am applying for an accelerated BSN nursing program next year (to begin in Fall 2008) after I finish my 3 science pre-reqs. But in the meantime, I had an interview today to begin volunteering - my interest is totally with babies... and I will start in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU (they called it PCICU).

I was told I'll mainly be soothing them, whether I'm rubbing their heads or singing/reading to them, and I'll get to hold them once in a while (those that are able to be held). They still have to do my background check - which won't be a problem - and my orientation is in 3 weeks, and I should be able to start immediately aftewards. I am SO excited!

On the tour today, there were 10-12 newborns, all swaddled up. It's a fairly new floor. The tour I had was with the volunteer coordinator, but I didn't get to talk to the nurses yet so I wasn't able to ask many floor-specific questions. But I can't WAIT. :)

So... What can I expect to see in the PCICU?

And on these boards - does this area fall under PICU or Cardiac ICU?

I am just guessing but this area probably falls under PICU since PICU deals with Pedi and most Cardiac ICUs with adults.

Congrats. I must admit I am jealous. I have been on the wait list for a 1 1/2 yrs to volunteer in my hospitals NICU. I was all set to go for orientation and when I went for my TB test results I was told I had a fever so I couldn't go to orientation. The waitlist is long for the NICU-it is one of the most popular places to volunteer and over time they have changed the job description from holding babies to more of an administrative one with an occassional chance to hold babies so I am not sure I want to volunteer as much as I used to. I really don't feel like doing paper work. Congrats again.