On the Job in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Courtney Jacks, one of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses, has been a team member at Children’s of Alabama since 2014. Though she’s been part of the team for a few years now, she remembers what being new to Children’s was like, and offers advice to those starting their nursing career here:

“My advice would be to never give up, despite any circumstances you will encounter. You will be surrounded with great staff, great families of the patients and a great hospital environment. I also want new hires to know it will be overwhelming at first, but again, never give up and don’t lose sight of why you are there in the first place – to be a nurse and to care for patients.”

Of all the exciting things new hires have to look forward to when joining Children’s, Courtney points to the culture of the organization as one of the most impactful components of the job.

“I wanted to work and be in an atmosphere that is happy and uplifting. Children’s is that and so much more. You walk in the door and can’t help but love to be here. It is such a special place.”

Part of what makes Children’s a special place is the team that supports each other through challenging times when caring for sick patients.

“Things are always changing in the NICU to help us improve patient care, and the status of patients can change at any moment, so it’s helpful to have experienced nurses on the team that can help each other out. Combined, we have so much experience and knowledge, and we all work together to help improve the delivery of care on the unit.”

Working in the NICU, Courtney recognizes the challenges of working with a special set of patients, but emphasizes that the reward is much greater. Courtney always knew she wanted to work with children, and originally thought she would be a teacher. However, after her father went through his own medical journey with cancer, her focus switched to becoming a health care provider for children.

“After my father’s battle with cancer and seeing what a difference the care he received made for him and our family, I knew I wanted to work as a nurse. I knew Children’s of Alabama was the best place I could be to provide excellent care for children.”

Living out her goal of providing care to children in the NICU at Children’s keeps Courtney motivated to come back to work every day. She assures any candidates looking to build their career here, “We do amazing things at Children’s of Alabama.”

Apply today to start your career of doing amazing things at Children’s!