You do all of this?!

[livmoore89]

Hi everyone!! I'm 3 weeks from graduation and needing some advise! My dream has been and still is to be a NICU nurse. I shadowed a nurse while in HS in a large NICU in my city and loved it. Unfortunately there was no precepting opportunity for NICU at my school so I have gotten no experience in it to help give me a leg up while searching for jobs. I ended up being placed in the OR and absolutely loved it. I've already been offered a job there when I graduate. However, I was recently called into an interview for another position at another hospital. This job is considered women's services and it includes ALL of the following: L&D/PP/NICU/non-NICU nursery/occasional OR circulating and PACU. These ladies do it all in their unit. I am so scared and so nervous to accept a job in their unit because of all they do. Working L&D terrifies me to my core. I just get sick thinking about it. So I set up a job shadow opportunity with this hospital to see if I would like it. My question for you nurses is this: if the job shadow goes well, should I suck it up and get over my fear and accept the position so I can get that NICU experience (even if it is minimal since time there doesn't seem as extensive as L&D/PP, etc) or should I go with the OR that I know already I would love? I hear mixed reviews about nurses being hired into the NICU as far as any experience translating well into the neonatal area. Some people say it doesn't matter, other people say it does. Anyone care to give me some advise? Thank you!!

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

I think shadowing on the unit is a great idea if you know you really want to work in NICU one day. Just try it and then make the decision. You may actually like LAD.

[Katie71275]

I would definitely try it out. I would be overwhelmed to be learning how to do all of that at once...I would ask how the orientation is into each specialty. It would be somewhat like working LDRP with NICU thrown in. I personally LOVE L&D and work it full time,but also have a prn job in LDRP. the postpartum part isn't hard, but it's been interesting learning about the babies. You may enjoy it!