L&D/NICU nurses...question

preppynewlywed

I am volunteering in the NICU unit starting this weekend, and I will be rocking drug addicted babies.

Is there anything in particular I should know?

They told us to wear pink scrubs, so I already went and bought a few pairs of those...and plain white sneakers.

Any other tidbits?

I'm doing a 6 hour shift once a month.

Dee1028

I think it is really special that you are doing that! (and I have no advice)

caffinated_tulip

I am not nurse, yet, but I know don't wear perfume or anything scented

preppynewlywed

caffinated_tulip:

I am not nurse, yet, but I know don't wear perfume or anything scented

Oh I hadn't thought of that.

I'll go buy some unscented lotion and body wash.  My shampoo isn't scented.

Do you know if it is okay if I wear nail polish?  It doesn't say anything in the manual...I did cut my nails down to the length they said was acceptable.

bensbabe

caffinated_tulip:

I am not nurse, yet, but I know don't wear perfume or anything scented

 

 

This. And leave jewelry (except maybe a non-obtrusive wedding bad & stud earrings) at home. Babies can flail & grab your jewelry (and not let go!), and rings (like E Rings) don't get clean enough & have the potential to spread bacteria. Some nurses wear their wedding sets. I wear mine pinned to my pocket, or I take off my rings when I do patient care.

Awesome that you'll be taking care of those babies. Good for you!

caffinated_tulip

preppynewlywed:

caffinated_tulip:

I am not nurse, yet, but I know don't wear perfume or anything scented

Oh I hadn't thought of that.

I'll go buy some unscented lotion and body wash.  My shampoo isn't scented.

Do you know if it is okay if I wear nail polish?  It doesn't say anything in the manual...I did cut my nails down to the length they said was acceptable.

I wouldn't worry about it as long as the nail polish isn't going to flake, and is something neutral. I believe that the reason they have everyone in pink scrubs is so that the babies don't realize that a whole bunch of different people are holding them, at least that's what I assume (again, not a nurse yet). 

I think it's really awesome that you're volunteering like that, really awesome. 

AMYfromKY

I worked in the NICU when I was in high school.  This is pretty much common sense, but if you are around smoke at your home, make sure you keep your scrubs away from it and get dressed at the hospital. 

It was amazing how many volunteers would come in smelling like smoke and would have to be turned away. 

mrsmacias2008

that is such a great thing to do...I didn't even know you could do that.

preppynewlywed

mrsmacias2008:

that is such a great thing to do...I didn't even know you could do that.

Yeah!  One of the hospitals in Atlanta takes volunteers every year around this time.  It has a large percentage of drug addicted babies, and they need lots of help.

It took some effort to get approved.  I started the process months ago.  I had to do a drug test, take CPR and first aid, 2 classes, some sort of baby lessons on rocking/holding/bottle feeding.

DH keeps saying that after Saturday I am going to want to adopt every single kid.

Probably true.

thefarmchick

That is SO awesome!  When Luke was in the NICU the "cuddlers" were a godsend to a lot of nurses.

One of the babies in his nursery was going through withdrawls and it was awful to hear her cry all the time.  

If I lived near a hospital like that I would want to volunteer too and even though all the babies in his nursery had parents, I still wanted to take them all home.

oh-zysbaby

I'd say bring your thickest skin. A friend of mine holds sick babies every Thursday night at Children's Hospital, or reads or plays with older children. Some of the stories she tells me breaks my heart.

The last time I saw her I asked her how she did it - and she said that every child she sees has parents that get to get out and shower or have dinner or whatever for an hour while she is there. I almost cried.

You might not have that though, all your empathy will have to be for those sweet babies. You are doing a wonderful thing, remember each time that you are changing a life for the better!

bensbabe

I forgot to add to bring your aspirin/tylenol/ibuprofen

Those babies are very irritable & need lots of holding. You might get a headache. And I also agree with Oh-zy. These babies may not have involved parents, so have your thickest skin on & love those little bits!