In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Nurse Mari about her journey into NICU nursing and what it really looks like to care for some of the smallest and most vulnerable patients. She shares how she first became interested in working with babies, why she did not get into NICU right away, and how her background in med-surg, adult ICU, and travel nursing helped prepare her for the role she has now.

We also talk about what makes NICU nursing unique, from the emotional connection with families to the high level of critical thinking and teamwork required every day. Nurse Mari gives honest insight into both the rewarding and challenging parts of the specialty, along with advice for nurses who may be thinking about this path for themselves.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Caring for fragile newborns and their families.
• Taking a longer path into the specialty you want.
• Building skills and staying ready for the right opportunity.

About My Guest: Nurse Mari is a neonatal ICU nurse who cares for babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation, along with infants who have a wide range of medical needs. Before moving into NICU, she worked in med-surg, adult ICU, and other nursing roles that helped build the experience and perspective she now brings to her work. She also creates content online to share more about life as a NICU nurse.

Connect with Nurse Mari

Instagram: @nurse.mariii

Stay Connected:

Learn how we can work together

Apply to be on the Podcast

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

Welcome to My Nurse Specialty.

After more than 35 years in nursing and working across many different specialties, I’ve seen how easy it is for nurses to believe there are only a handful of career paths available. In nursing school, we are taught how to pass boards and practice safely, but we are not always shown the full range of opportunities this profession offers.

I created My Nurse Specialty because I want nurses to know there is so much more out there. Too often, we hear the same few specialties over and over again, not because those are the only good options, but because those are the ones we were exposed to. Many nurses never get the chance to explore the roles that may fit them better.

In this episode, I talk about my own journey through multiple nursing specialties and how finding the right fit can make all the difference. I believe nursing is not a one-path profession, and I want this podcast to help more nurses discover roles that match their strengths, interests, and goals.

Through this podcast, I’ll be having conversations with nurses from a wide variety of specialties so you can hear what their roles are really like, how they got there, what skills matter most, and what they wish they had known sooner.

Whether you are a student nurse, a new nurse, or an experienced nurse wondering what else is possible, this podcast is here to help you explore your options and think more intentionally about your career.

What you can expect from this podcast:
On My Nurse Specialty, you’ll hear real stories from nurses in many different specialties as they share:

• How they found their specialty
• What their role really looks like
• What skills matter in their area
• What they wish they had known earlier
• How nurses can explore and grow into different roles over time

Connect and share:
If this episode speaks to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, follow, and share it with another nurse or nursing student who may need to hear it.

And if you work in a unique nursing specialty and would like to share your story, I’d love to connect with you.

Stay Connected:

Learn how we can work together

Apply to be on the Podcast

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!