Becoming a neonatal nurse after having a preemie??

Stacy - posted on 07/27/2010

i am a nursing school student . i am getting my rn and than wanna do nicu later down the road i want to get my midwife and deliver high risk babies :) so

Sarah - posted on 07/27/2010

I was already working as a nurse when my daughter was born at 29 weeks. I have worked in adult critical care and now am in the operating room, so in my current position we do work with the preemies because the hospital I work at has a world-class NICU (thank goodness it was there when we needed it for our precious baby Lillian), but had never much considered specializing as a neonatal nurse...until sitting there day after day observing and singing praises to the NICU nurses. I am still not back at work due to my daughter's inability to attend daycare because of her immature immune system, but will be returning in September. I truly enjoy the work that I do now in the OR and love my co-workers, but if any of that ever changed or we moved, etc and had to look for a new job, I would seriously consider it....the work that neonatal nurses do is truly amazing. Nursing is a VERY rewarding (though often stressful) profession....at the end of everyday I am proud of the work I have done and the lives I have touched....GO FOR IT!!!

Cassana - posted on 07/27/2010

Thankyou for all the responses! its great to have such a lovely positive response! It's definately the route I want to take and wish you all the best with both your little ones and the careers you have/choose! xxx

Dorothy - posted on 07/25/2010

good for you! i think that is wonderful. and YES, more than once i thought about the same thing while sitting in the NICU. i want to be able to give back after the great care we received and to be able to help other families. i am not ready yet, want to stay home with my twins for a few years first, but someday i will go back to school and get my masters in social work with the intent of working in women's health/NICU. good luck! you are doing a wonderful thing!!

Jessica - posted on 07/25/2010

Im a sonographer and my specialty is perinatology, so I understood what was going on all along, but the whole experience of having a 30 weeker gave me a new found respect for my preterm labor patients, I understand them in a way I didnt before. I learned so much more about the process of a growing fetus that I didnt know before because I dint need to. It was and eye opener. I had thought about how nice it would be to explore that other side because it is amazing, but having to go back to school and l learning all kinds of nursing is not for me.
I do think however that it would be great to have a nurse or someone on the staff that has gone through this because it helps you feel understood. Good luck if you decide to take this endevor.

Ashlee - posted on 07/25/2010

I was a NICU nurse when I found out I was pregnant...and the doctors and nurses I worked with took care of my baby boy when he finally arrived (I say finally even though he was 8 weeks early because I was on bed rest at 8 weeks pregnant!). I wasn't sure if I was able to go back...but I did in December and love it even more! I encourage all of you...if you want to do it give it a tray...I think it is the most rewarding position I have held as a nurse!

Kylie - posted on 07/24/2010

I was thinking about becoming a children's nurse before having Joseph. I don't think I could work in a NICU as I feel I would identify too strongly with the parents. I'm not sure.

I'd love to do paediatric nursing still, but now is not the right time, we'll see in a couple of years!

Amanda - posted on 07/24/2010

I have already started to process of going back to school... I have talked to lots of people and I know that I would really understand what these parents are going thoguht. and if I would have had someone to talk to while I was in the NICU it would have help me so I think that if you what to do it go for it.

Julie - posted on 07/24/2010

I am already a veterinarian, but I did think about it ... a lot. Well, maybe a neonatologist, but same idea. If you can, do it! I think you could bring that extra bit of care that families need in times like we went through.

Happy schooling and good luck!

Cassana - posted on 07/24/2010

yeah that is exactly what I thought. People were always kind and would ask how we were etc but I don't think you fully understand the whole emotional side until you've been there yourself. I hope your little one is doing well now and nice to know I'm not the only one wanting to do this now xx

Ashlee - posted on 07/23/2010

I have wanted to be a nurse for a while, but since the premature birth of my son I decided that I was going to become a NICU nurse. I feel that I will be able to help the parents feel better about what they are dealing with because I have been there and know how they feel. I wish that there was someone there who could have related to me and what I was going thru, it was the hardest time of my life and I felt so alone. I believe people need to be able to have someone to relate to in a hard situation like that.