You Know You Are A NICU Nurse When......

I've read this before and thought it was too funny not to share. You may not enjoy it as much as a NICU nurse- but it gives you a glimpse into our world!!

You Know You Are A NICU Nurse When.......

1. You've eaten hamburger patties bigger than most of your patients.

2. You define colors by the color of stool you've seen - ex. baby poop green/yellow.

3. You don't understand why talking about sticking a needle in a baby's head is making other people at the dinner table ill.

4. At one time or another you've had breast milk, poop, or urine on your work clothes.

5. You can change your patient's bed linens with one hand while holding your patient in the other.

6. You can make an IV arm board out of some 4x4 gauze and tape.

7. You've almost caught your hair on fire on your patient's radiant warmer bed (even worse when you are tall!!)

8. You check out the scalp veins, cap refill, and fontanels on a friend's new baby.

9. You use Saran Wrap to keep your food fresh and your patients warm.

10. You think all crying babies need Benadryl, Versed, or intubation.

11. You have ever shown a doctor a green residual while they were eating.

12. You have put an intensive care patient in a swing.

13. You don't get excited if your patient has a heartrate of 180.

14. You do chest compressions with two fingers.

15. You prepare your patient's bath water in a Dixiecup.

16. You use a rubber band for a tourniquet.

17. Newborn babies look like preschooler to you.

18. You tell people what you do and they think you sit around and rock babies all day.

19. When you tell people what you REALLY do they start to cry and/or vomit.

20. You have assisted with surgery on your patient in their bed and on the unit.

And lastly, you know you're a NICU nurse if you've read 1-20 and have laughed your fanny off!