New Grad NICU Support Thread

Specialties NICU

Published

Calling all New Grad NICU nurses...thanks to a thread started by NurseDevonL, we have decided to start a support group. Hopefully some of our more experienced NICU nurses will look in every so often to lend some support and knowledge as well. Welcome!

niculove:yeah:

Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

I know this thread is basically for New Grads in search of information about NICU, but I want to know if there are any hospitals out there that hire inexperienced nurses into NICU? I graduated in 2007 with my BSN. I went to school to become a nurse to work in NICU. This is my dream job and my passion. However, my first job as a new grad in a Level III NICU was a terrible experience. I did not get the support that I needed during orientation and the orientation "program" was not at all what it should be. When I brought up my concerns to the manager at that time, they basically stopped orienting me and then fired me on the last day of the 90 day orientation (that's right, only 90 days orientation to a level III NICU!). I have applied to every NICU/SCN position in multiple hospitals in IL, WI, and TX (and a few in OH and CO). I have not had any luck. This manager at my first NICU job has had be blackballed from getting any jobs at the 3 hospitals in my area, and so I have been stuck doing Post NICU/PICU Pediatric Home Health for the last 3 years. I miss being in the hospital and feel like I have lost so many skills because it has been so long since I have been in a clinical/hospital setting. Out of the hundreds-thousands of jobs I have applied to over the last 4 years, I have only had a handful of interviews. Most of them have said that they are looking for nurses that have 3-5 years NICU experience. How am I to get this experience if no one will give me the chance. I've worked in Med/Surg/Tele for a short time, but was extremely unhappy in this position and was bullied by other nurses to the point where it was too stressful and I dreaded going to work everyday. So, I went to Peds Home Health. I'd really appreciate any help or information. TIA

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I know this thread is basically for New Grads in search of information about NICU, but I want to know if there are any hospitals out there that hire inexperienced nurses into NICU? I graduated in 2007 with my BSN. I went to school to become a nurse to work in NICU. This is my dream job and my passion. However, my first job as a new grad in a Level III NICU was a terrible experience. I did not get the support that I needed during orientation and the orientation "program" was not at all what it should be. When I brought up my concerns to the manager at that time, they basically stopped orienting me and then fired me on the last day of the 90 day orientation (that's right, only 90 days orientation to a level III NICU!). I have applied to every NICU/SCN position in multiple hospitals in IL, WI, and TX (and a few in OH and CO). I have not had any luck. This manager at my first NICU job has had be blackballed from getting any jobs at the 3 hospitals in my area, and so I have been stuck doing Post NICU/PICU Pediatric Home Health for the last 3 years. I miss being in the hospital and feel like I have lost so many skills because it has been so long since I have been in a clinical/hospital setting. Out of the hundreds-thousands of jobs I have applied to over the last 4 years, I have only had a handful of interviews. Most of them have said that they are looking for nurses that have 3-5 years NICU experience. How am I to get this experience if no one will give me the chance. I've worked in Med/Surg/Tele for a short time, but was extremely unhappy in this position and was bullied by other nurses to the point where it was too stressful and I dreaded going to work everyday. So, I went to Peds Home Health. I'd really appreciate any help or information. TIA

Sorry for your difficult experience. As I am not there yet, I do not have much advice to give you other than is it possible to find a peds position somewhere and then possible make a future transition to the NICU again.

I imagine that first job regardless of specialty have challenges and being a new nurse can seem very overwhelming with all the things there is to know. I can only hope that my first job post graduation will have a great support system. While I know that NICU may not be my "first stop" in nursing, it is the direction I will be working towards....and I am excited about the possibility.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

I have applied to positions in Pediatrics, PICU, NICU, SCN, Nursery, and OB/LDRP. I haven't had any luck with any of them.

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi Boratz- I just DL-ed your Brains! Thanks so much for sharing! I start hospital wide orientation tomorrow and then on the unit the next day! The next 2 weeks will be on/off hospital classes/seminars and on the unit- so excited, and probably twice as nervous! I have worked in a level 2 nursery for 2 years (IVF, NC, abx, 33weeks or greater)- wish me luck! (And thanks again!!!!!)

P.S. I have started reviewing/reading Merensteins & Gardner's handbook- any other suggestions?

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

You are welcome, but I am not from Kazakhstan. LOL.

Good luck to you. If you need the forms edited to suit your unit, I could do that as well. Just shoot me a message.

ETA: The book you have is considered the best by the members of this community. I also read the Core Curriculum as well.

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Specializes in NICU.
You are welcome, but I am not from Kazakhstan. LOL.

Good luck to you. If you need the forms edited to suit your unit, I could do that as well. Just shoot me a message.

ETA: The book you have is considered the best by the members of this community. I also read the Core Curriculum as well.

Whoops, do not give me your tears... haha! simple typo! thanks again!:lol2:

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Whoops, do not give me your tears... haha! simple typo! thanks again!:lol2:

Happens all the time. It's apparent to me now that Borat is more popular that Klingons. :p:jester:

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Specializes in NICU.

Rnpic,

I'm not sure how much my experiences will help you, but they might so here it goes. I graduated nursing school in August, took and passed my boards in November, applied for positions (NICU, residencies, etc) in December, and interviewed in late December. I got the call yesterday that the NICU I wanted (in Atlanta) wants me and they offered me the job- this will be my first job as a nurse.

The only medical experience I have aside from clinical rotations is a summer Student Nurse Internship I did at a pediatric hospital where I was living/working at the time- Cincinnati. After that internship was over the unit offered me a position as a PCA while I was finishing up school. Total I was at that hospital for about 14 months. I believe that helped boost my resume and gave me the edge I needed to get that interview. I was even told other candidates were applying and being interviewed.

Moral of my little life story- it is DEFINITELY possible to get a NICU job with little/no experience as a nurse. Keep your chin up, keep trying, and keep pursuing your dream. It'll work out in the long run and you'll probably appreciate it even more as a result. Best of luck, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM me or ask on here. Let us know how your search goes. :)

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Welcome to the forum and the NICU, goshenc1. :)

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Specializes in NICU.

Thanks so much Bortaz, RN! I can't wait to start. Gotta admit, I've stumbled onto a lot of your posts throughout different threads- you have such great advice and tips for fellow nurses. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. :yeah:

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What would you suggest I do as a new graduate waiting to get an offer in the NICU. What can I do to better myself as a candidate? Are there specifics that the NICU unit look for for new graduates who didn't do their senior practicum in NICU setting? I do agree this unit is very different even from a pediatrics unit. My passion is neonates and if I had to settle for anything less it would be pediatrics.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

i have several applications out to both a level 2 and level 3 nicu's. i haven't given up on my dream of working nicu even though right now i'll take any hospital job. i don't know what more i can do anymore to make myself more marketable. i joined nann for the networking only to find out my "local" group meets 2 1/2 hours away, which is not feasible for me to get to. i tried once and got caught in a serious traffic jam on the interstate. i was an hour late and missed the meeting even though i left 6 hours early. i even joined the aacn and actually get to go to their meetings, but have yet to meet a nicu nurse only the picu nurses seem to come. i graduate with my bsn this summer (hopefully) and hope like #$%# this jump starts my career as i am on a serious stall.

just once i would love to come onto an with something happy to say other than my grades are better than i've ever gotten before.

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