NICU Nurses
Personal Interest
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) captures my attention due to the fact that it creates an atmosphere of family blending and technology usage. As a neonatal registered nurse I can follow the infants from birth to discharge; and also see the parents grow and take care of their infants when the time comes. The NICU can be a rewarding place because focus is put more on the nurses in the NICU. There is more of an inter-professional relationship with doctors and neonatal nurses due to nurses being the first source of critical information for an infant.
Working Conditions
NICUs are typically quiet places; however there is still the risk of work hazards. Blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), and blood borne …show more content…
Newborns are at risk because of the use of latex gloves during surgeries or even day to day interaction from NICU nurses. There is the conversion to latex-free gloves; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2015) has determined that there is really no way to confirm that the gloves are actually “latex-free.” Also, the open floor plan of the NICU is considered an occupation hazard (Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA], n.d.). Open space allows for NICU nurses to be exposed to electromagnetic radiation and chemicals from adjoining spaces (OSHA, n.d.). Iatrogenic (illness caused by medical treatments) complications are increasing in the NICU (Sekar, 2010). Technological advancement as well as inadequate randomized trials and medical errors are causal for iatrogenic errors in neonatal medicine (Sekar, 2010). Sekar’s (2010) research explains many iatrogenic events in the NICU that includes but are not limited to medication errors, nosocomial infections (hospital acquired infections), complications with mechanical ventilation. Some of these iatrogenic events could be caused by the work hours of neonatal registered nurses (RNs). In the NICU, nurses …show more content…
However, certifications provide patients and their relatives with sense of security; security in that the nurse has demonstrated experience and knowledge of handling critical care that they are specialized in. Certifications, in addition, help a nurse feel validated in their skills. The National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a credentialing agency that offers certification to obstetrical nurses. NCC offers core certifications and also subspecialties. NICU nurses can obtain certification in neonatal intensive care nursing (RNC-NIC) through NCC. According to NCC (2015), RNC-NIC cost is $325 and is awarded for three years. Recertification requires a $100 NCC maintenance fee and continuing education hours. Nurses can also get certified through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) certification corporation. AACN offers the Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN). NCC also offers subspecialty certification: electronic fetal monitoring and neonatal pediatric transport that has an application fee of
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) captures my attention due to the fact that it creates an atmosphere of family blending and technology usage. As a neonatal registered nurse I can follow the infants from birth to discharge; and also see the parents grow and take care of their infants when the time comes. The NICU can be a rewarding place because focus is put more on the nurses in the NICU. There is more of an inter-professional relationship with doctors and neonatal nurses due to nurses being the first source of critical information for an infant.
Working Conditions
NICUs are typically quiet places; however there is still the risk of work hazards. Blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), and blood borne …show more content…
Newborns are at risk because of the use of latex gloves during surgeries or even day to day interaction from NICU nurses. There is the conversion to latex-free gloves; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2015) has determined that there is really no way to confirm that the gloves are actually “latex-free.” Also, the open floor plan of the NICU is considered an occupation hazard (Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA], n.d.). Open space allows for NICU nurses to be exposed to electromagnetic radiation and chemicals from adjoining spaces (OSHA, n.d.). Iatrogenic (illness caused by medical treatments) complications are increasing in the NICU (Sekar, 2010). Technological advancement as well as inadequate randomized trials and medical errors are causal for iatrogenic errors in neonatal medicine (Sekar, 2010). Sekar’s (2010) research explains many iatrogenic events in the NICU that includes but are not limited to medication errors, nosocomial infections (hospital acquired infections), complications with mechanical ventilation. Some of these iatrogenic events could be caused by the work hours of neonatal registered nurses (RNs). In the NICU, nurses …show more content…
However, certifications provide patients and their relatives with sense of security; security in that the nurse has demonstrated experience and knowledge of handling critical care that they are specialized in. Certifications, in addition, help a nurse feel validated in their skills. The National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a credentialing agency that offers certification to obstetrical nurses. NCC offers core certifications and also subspecialties. NICU nurses can obtain certification in neonatal intensive care nursing (RNC-NIC) through NCC. According to NCC (2015), RNC-NIC cost is $325 and is awarded for three years. Recertification requires a $100 NCC maintenance fee and continuing education hours. Nurses can also get certified through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) certification corporation. AACN offers the Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN). NCC also offers subspecialty certification: electronic fetal monitoring and neonatal pediatric transport that has an application fee of