As a new nurse, how long does it take to get an ICU job?

[Socal_EMT]

My goal is to become an ICU nurse one day. Could anyone inform me on the steps to becoming a nurse in the ICU. Also, the amount of experience required, and some good tips/strategies. Thank you in advanced!

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Ivyleaf - short answer is yes. Definitely plenty of openings in NC!

[MurseJJ]

I was able to get a SICU position as a new graduate (graduated this August, interviewed and got the job in September, before I passed the NCLEX), but turned it down for a few reasons. Things that I did to help me maximize my chances of obtaining a new grad position in ICU included:

1) ICU clinical rotation-for med/surg II, my clinical rotation was in a CTICU. If you can have at least one clinical in an ICU, that looks great. I also tried to get my preceptorship clinical in an ICU, but wasn't able to.

2) ACLS-I did ACLS in my last month of school. The SICU position I was offered liked that I did that

3) ECG interpretation course-I did this online through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (I also joined AACN as a student member). This helped a lot with ACLS.

4) work experience-I've been able to float to various ICUs in my nursing assistant jobs for years, so that provides additional exposure that employers may find attractive.

Hope that helps, good luck!

[whatthefaulk8]

Openings everywhere in Oklahoma. I applied online in April 2015 my senior year of college and got a call from the hospital's ICU i currently work at 20 minutes later.