by kgo2006

Hello!

I just completed my first year in an RN program, and have one more year to go! I knew before I started nursing school, I wanted to be a NICU nurse and am trying to fit anything I possibly can towards being hired as a future RN in the NICU. I wanted to extern at a local hospital in the NICU but seeing that I have not covered maternal-child, am unable to be qualified to extern. However i did extern on a med surg floor for several months in the branch of hospital I intend on working for upon graduating. Currently I am working as a medical assistant at a pediatric clinic for the summer, and will prob. work for a couple hours a wk throughout my fall/spring semester. My gpa is a 3.5 for now. Any advice on what else can further my chances of being hired as a NICU nurse? Thanks!

Re: I want to be a NICU nurse

Do you have any friends or former students that you know that work in NICU? Network! Get the emails of managers and make your name familiar. I've worked in two NICUs thanks to internet networking!

You said you externed on a floor you planned on working for upon graduation? Do you not want to go straight into NICU?

Re: I want to be a NICU nurse

Your best chances of being hired in a NICU a year from now, depend on if their are openings in the NICUs at the hospitals you attend to apply at and if they welcome new grads to their NICUs. I know here in our NICU we welcome new grads, as we just hired a couple.

Like NeoNurseTx said, your best bet to get your name recognized when the time comes for your to apply, is to network. Get names of the unit managers for your hospitals NICUs and when you get close to graduating, ask to meet with them. Tell them your plans and desires to work in their NICU. Make a lasting impression on them. I know of one case a few years ago, we had a nurse who wanted to work here, but at the time didn't have any openings. However, she was so persistent, that our unit manager eventually hired her, and she has been one of the best nurse's our unit has. So if NICU is where you want to be, don't let anything stop you and don't take "no" as an answer.

Good luck!

Re: I want to be a NICU nurse

Thank you so much for your responses!

I did extern on a med-surg floor for several months to get my name into the hospital system I wanted to work for after graduation, however I decided I wanted to pick up more hours and experience at the pediatric clinic I am working for. I can't extern on a NICU floor yet because I haven't taken pediatrics/women's health. I actually have friends who work in postpartum, and I have called the unit director before to let her know I was interested in doing an externship in the NICU once I am qualified. I plan on calling her again sometime this fall so I could apply for an externship in the spring.

"Get names of the unit managers for your hospitals NICUs and when you get close to graduating, ask to meet with them. Tell them your plans and desires to work in their NICU."

So you recommend I call the unit director later on once I finish school. How would I present that meeting, I would just like to meet with you to....?

Re: I want to be a NICU nurse

"Get names of the unit managers for your hospitals NICUs and when you get close to graduating, ask to meet with them. Tell them your plans and desires to work in their NICU."

So you recommend I call the unit director later on once I finish school. How would I present that meeting, I would just like to meet with you to....?

Are you planning on calling her once you become eligible to do the NICU externship, or when you actually graduate from school?