I’m 24 with a little over two years of experience in adult neuro stepdown and perioperative nursing. I actually really like my current job, but I’ve been thinking about where I want to go next. I’m considering possibly going back to bedside with NICU being one of my interests within the next year or so. I’ve always been interested in complex medicine and critical care, but adult inpatient nursing really drained me. I don’t mind caring for adults, but I do miss the deeper clinical involvement and seeing patients make progress. And I do want something different! NICU has always intrigued me, even though my nursing school exposure was pretty limited. I find the medical part fascinating, but I’m also interested in the babies themselves. The thought of helping a tiny premature infant grow stronger and eventually go home to experience the life sounds rewarding and fulfilling. I’m honestly terrified of how fragile they are, though. 😭 I have very little experience handling newborns, much less critically ill premature infants. My other concern is fitting in socially. I’m introverted, socially awkward, childfree, and not particularly bubbly or maternal. I’ve heard NICU units can be cliquey, and I worry about being the odd one out especially being a black, alt, nurse in the bible belt. I don’t dislike babies at all! I actually think I have more patience and empathy for infants and young children than adults (i know parents exist tho😭). I’m just not naturally the super affectionate, baby obsessed type. I don’t need to be best friends with my coworkers, but I do want to feel respected, supported, and included as part of the team. I also want to emphasize that I’m not looking for an easy specialty. I know NICU can be incredibly demanding, emotionally exhausting, and heartbreaking. I’m willing to put in the work, learn from scratch, and be uncomfortable while developing my skills. What I don’t want is another job where I spend every shift feeling like I’m just surviving. I want to find somewhere I can grow, become genuinely competent, enjoy caring for my patients, and hopefully stay for at least some time even if not forever! I never considered nursing my calling, but I worked hard for my degree, and I’d really like to find some fulfillment in this profession. I want to find my home in nursing, if that makes sense. I know this is a job. But damn if ima have to be at work for most of my life I at least wanna be fulfilled and enjoy it some of the time! For NICU nurses, especially those who transitioned from adult care: How was the transition? Are there nurses who aren’t particularly outgoing or maternal? And what should I look for in a supportive orientation and workplace? I’d really appreciate honest experiences, both positive and negative!   submitted by   /u/DessMounda [link]   [comments]