How do I apply to a job in Critical Care.

AmyCardsNP, RN, NP · Jun 9, 2009

Looks like jobs in ICUs for new grads are becoming harder and harder to come by in this economy. You may want to start looking (if you haven't started already) for a job on another unit, assuming you've exhausted your resources looking for job openings in ICUs in your area. Since you have been out of nursing school for a year now with no nursing experience, time is against you... hurry up and get a job somewhere. Nurse managers know that you will lose more of the skills you learned in school the longer you are left out of the game.

Hurry and get some applications in to get some experience in the nursing world

MOMMY'SGIRL · Jun 16, 2009

Are you seeking employment in critical care b/c of future plans for graduate school? If so, you need to look else where, ICU is not the only crticial care setting acceptable. Depending on where you live, most hospitals have a recruiting department, which is strictly for doctors and nurses. You may possibly have to accept a position in another town.

SunshineBSN · Jun 17, 2009

what do you mean? that they wont hire someone into the ICU because they are thinking about grad school? or that its simply too hard to get into? Even though I still dont get into grad school or thinking about it. I still want to be in that unit.

Riversurfer · Jun 21, 2009

Unless you are held down by restraints (i.e. kids, family, etc), you can find a job SOMEWHERE. You could have been working this past year and getting experience which will help when looking for a position in critical care. What are you waiting for?

mjohnson8436RN · Jun 22, 2009

Try looking for a position on a stepdown uinit or telemetry unit, it will make for a easier time trying to get a ICU position. They usually only have 1 or 2 new grad openings on that unit. But if you have some type of experience it will make for a easier time for you to get your dream position. It will only take a minimum of a year max of 18 mos.

ssk123 · Jul 21, 2009

Hi also looking for job in icu/ccu. What made you other exp. rns choose this specialty. I have some exp. in various areas and would really like to explore icu, but at the same time I am wondering if I have what it takes, not a new grad with everything fresh in my mind anymore. During an interview what could I expect ? Last time I had one they just kind of asked me about exp. and when I could start. I understand icu may require/ ask a little bit more than that.

jhodaki, RN · Jul 22, 2009

SunshineBSN,

I feel your pain about being a new grad having a hard time finding a job. I think I lucked out because when I was a student we did clinicals on a CVICU unit and I basically begged the director to hire me, and she did... the week before a hiring freeze of the hospital I work at as well as other hospitals around me. I graduated in December, and a LOT of people had a hard time finding jobs. Probably most of the people I graduated with, and I graduated from a BSN program as well. It is July now and people are still waiting to get hired. I'm sure it has to do with the money... it is really expensive to train someone new in the icu, let alone a new grad. Most hospitals have an extensive orientation period... and that's not cheap. Plus, most units are slower now (at lease CVICU and CCU units) because a lot of people aren't getting those "elective" procedures they planned on getting because they simply don't have the money. Therefore, less nurses are needed.

My advice is... at this point... take any job you can get. Yeah, it sucks... but it's better than sitting around and waiting for a job that may not come your way for a while. I had a friend that wanted L&D and couldn't get it at all, so now she is getting a year in on a neuro floor and then applying. Once you have a year or two under your belt it will be easier to move to the unit. It would be good if you worked on a floor that the patients are on monitors... that way you can still learn different ECG rhythms and quiz yourself. Plus, you can always learn the cardiac meds because most patients are on a bunch. I say just get what you can for now. The longer you are away from the field, the harder it will be to get a job anywhere.

Mrs.Rollins, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2009

I agree with most of the advice other posters offered. Honestly, any work you can get to develop your clinical skills and improve your experience at this point is a great thing. As another poster offered, try an IMCU position if it become available. While it's not technically critical care, you will be getting patients coming directly out of the ICU. For that reason, you will get some experience with how a patient transitions out of critical care and what to expect when that happens. In addition, you'll get a wide variety of illnesses and conditions which will only serve you well in the long-run. You'll also develop time management (I'm sorry--I know that's the time-old cliched benefit everyone espouses regarding any kind of med-surg) because you'll have multiple patients; by the time you're ready to break into ICU you'll be more than ready to handle 2 patients. And on most IMCU's (or at least the ones I've seen) they have about 4 or maybe 5 patients, as opposed to the gaggle of them you'll get on a regular med-surg floor.

Be patient with yourself. Being a grad is hard regardless of what unit you're on (believe me, I'm swimming in it right now), but any experience you gain at this point will do you well in the long-run. After a year, start looking to transition into ICU. Good luck!