[marie229]

I'm waiting for my scores on my lVN NCLEX and am already in an RN program. I want to be a NICU nurse. Do you have any advise for me? Is it hard to get into that department? Anything that would make me stand out more than other applicants to the department?

[EricEnfermero]

Marie,

I'm glad to hear that you want to be a NICU nurse. I think it's certainly a great place to work. Here's a little advice just off the top of my head.

- For right now, focus your attention on excelling in school so that you'll have some great faculty recommendations when it's time to apply for jobs.

- As you go through school, be sure to keep your mind open to other possibilities besides the NICU. Nursing is full of so many neat areas. You don't want to miss one of them just because you weren't looking.

- When it comes down to applying to the NICU as a new grad, look for hospitals that have new grad nurse internship programs.

Good luck to you!

[staciebeth]

I got a job as a NICU nurse right out of school, so it can be done. My hospital had a 16 week orientation, make sure wherever you go, there is a long program, it's a specialty unit and you'll need the learning experience. It's a great unit and I can't picture myself working anywhere else. Good luck!

[doularoz]

If you have trouble getting into a NICU try mother/baby nursing first in a hospital that has a NICU. Then aks to shadow or work per diem in the NICU. Maybe they will orient you to feeder/grower babys to start. Good Luck