Career Corner >> Nursing Specialization >> NICU Nurses
NICU Nurses
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Posted about 1 year ago What's it like being a NICU nurse? I would imagine this must be one of the most difficult places to work, especially from an emotional standpoint. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago I worked almost 2 years in NICU. It is very demanding at times. Alot of machines. The smallest baby I cared for was 15 ounces. She is 16 now and I still get photos from her family, every year. It was a nice place to work until I had my own preemie at 3-5oz that almost died, then all my experience went out the window. I went back to labor and delivery, then moved onto home health. |
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| Posted 23 days ago Hi, I've also worked 2 years in NICU, and I absolutely love it!!! There are definately a lot of sad times, but there are just as many happy ones. We really save so many little lives, it is truly a rewarding place to work. There is a lot of interaction with families, so its obviously important to be somewhat sensitive and empathetic with them. Its one of those jobs where the saying "if/when the time comes that you're no longer effected by the tragedies, its time to quit" ..is very appropriate. I've laughed and cried with some of the families.... Its a very detailed place to work. Unlike other areas of nursing, your patient can't tell you what's wrong. So every assessment is kind of a search for everything/anything that could go wrong. Preemies do have somewhat of a predictable behavior, so you just kinda have to keep your eyes peeled for common complications. While some of the babies will be only a pound or two, the equipment that they are on can be enormous.... the respiratory machines can be quite large and combersome. There is definately A LOT to learn! The hardest thing, aside from the obvious loss of infant deaths, is seeing some of the home situations... you'll see babies admitted for withdrawl from drugs the mom was on during pregnancy, and others that are being held by children and youth because the family is not fit for one reason or another to take the baby home... Your heart really goes out to them. Some babies are in the NICU for so long (several months sometimes...) that it does become very easy to grow attached. I recently discharged a baby after 2 months, and I had been his admission nurse too! It was the nicest thing to be able to see him go home in good health after such a long stay. Ok..sorry I wrote you a book, but I want to make sure you get that there a wonderful sides to the NICU too! |
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| Posted 23 days ago This is an area I am also considering. My aunt has worked in the NICU for probably close to 20 years, and she LOVES it. She says it is very rewarding and a great place to be. |
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| Posted 22 days ago This is a job I have been considering as well. I feel like it would be so rewarding, but I am afriad there might be a high burn-out rate. Have any of you experienced that? |
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| Posted 22 days ago I would not be able to handle this job. Too close to home for me and I would loose all caregiver patient boundaries.
Ginny |
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| Posted 22 days ago I have not experience/noticed a lot of burn out in my unit... we work very well as a team, and if someone has been struggling with a certain patient/situation, we will be sure to trade assignments with them the next day or help them out as much as possible. If you've had a 1:1 acuity kid for a while, it can be very stressful, and switching to a feeder/grower assignment can help give your brain a little bit of a break. Perhaps others would say differently, but MOST of the NICU nurses I have met will say that once you work with the babies you don't want to switch to anything else... NICU and Maternity seem to have some of the oldest nurses working today - seems once you get a job there, you never want to quit! |