Becoming A NICU Nurse

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“Nursing is the nation's largest healthcare profession, with nearly 4.7 million registered nurses nationwide” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing). Nursing is ever so popular in the healthcare system because of the endless opportunities and experiences. One of the most notable areas of nursing is flexibility. Nurses do not have to be committed to a particular field for the entirety of their career; instead, they have the freedom to explore whatever field they choose, allowing for continuous growth and exploring their interests. Becoming a nurse can be accomplished on various paths, allowing people from all backgrounds to pursue this career. Nurses can attend a two-year college to obtain an associate's degree or a traditional four-year …show more content…
Being a PICU nurse has many perks and benefits, such as an abundance of nursing skills, establishing personal relationships with children and their families, and receiving a high salary. However, this job does have its negative side because of the “emotional toll of caring for critically ill toddlers, children, and adolescents and their families, exposure to death and dying, high-stress environment, bedside burnout, physically demanding work, and emotional attachment to patients and their families,” Gaines said. Despite the complex parts of the job, being a PICU nurse is gratifying. A NICU nurse works with newborns who are “born with a variety of problems ranging from prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations, and surgical problems” (National Association of Neonatal Nurses). A NICU nurse will frequently care for the same child from birth until they are discharged. NICI nurses make a huge difference in families' lives, and many nurses hear from their patients throughout their lives. A NICU nurse is the voice of the tiniest and most ill patients who don't have their own (National Association of Neonatal Nurses). A career as a NICU nurse is almost always in a hospital setting. Nurses can care for up to 4 patients at a time, but that number varies depending on the severity of their patients (National Association of Neonatal Nurses). NICU nurses must be willing to work nights, holidays, and weekends. These nurses usually work a few twelve-hour shifts a week, but some facilities may offer more flexible options, like an eight or ten-hour day. While the nursing field is filled with many opportunities and positive aspects, nurses will still face major challenges. One of those significant challenges is the current nursing shortage. In most careers, being short-staffed may cause minor inconveniences, but as a nurse, this could be a matter of life or death for a patient
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