3 replies to this topic

[adiaz1229]

I am a senior in high school and can't wait to pursue the nursing fields. I am most interested in working with infants, especially NICU. I am planning to attend a community college; my boyfriend's sister went to the same one, and she said she loved the hands-on component of it rather than a four-year institution she also attended. However, she works at a nursing home, which I haven't read any further education requirements for. I was wondering what other experience would be required beyond my LPN and RN certifications if I wanted to pursue a position in the NICU or L&D, and if there are any, what other areas might those qualify me for?

I am also looking for salary information for NICU and L&D nurses (especially in the state of Iowa), versus working in a nursing home.

Thank you so much!

[HeatherG]

You may find that most NICU's will want you to come with some hospital experience first before you work in the NICU. It all depends what staffing is like. There are post graduate NICU courses and our hospital expects nurses to take this course.

[ladybugj]

i'm not sure if you'd need extra courses to work in the nicu or l&d, but what i think may be benificial is to work as a cna or student nurse associate (collegiate nurse intern) at the hospital you wish to begin your nursing career at. this way you learn by example, clinical managers and nurses will know your face and work ethic, not to mention give you experience working with the infant and post partum population. also, one of the courses for your degree may allow you to do an internship in the nicu.

good luck!

[westies]

I'm a NICU nurse. You need no special classes to further a career in NICU or L & D. Those you will need will be provided when hired. I totally agree to pursue volunteering, aide work and/or a practicum/internship in the unit once in school. You will get to see if it is what you really want to do, plus you'll get your foot in the door. That being said, as a NICU nurse who started as a new grad make sure that it is what you want to do and that you'll always be living where there is a NICU. I've done Pediatrics along with NICU and only a few adults. There is a lot of adult stuff I've forgotten over the 11 years and to go back makes me very nervous and now having 2 young kids, studying would be very difficult. Currently our census dropped after a very busy time. Since we are not a money producing unit, we are being required to float to OB and Peds/women's health and staff are in an uproar. There are people who have only worked in NICU for 20+ years and never taken care of adults so they are terrified. I'm more flexible and willing since I've had some experience on Peds, but that doesn't help me keep my NICU skills when I'm the first floated (intubation, line placement, etc). If you are in a large town, patient census may not be a problem. I wish you luck! Go start volunteering