New Grad and would like advice about NICU

Specialties NICU

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I am graduating in a few weeks and am currently doing my preceptorship in the NICU. Although I knew I wanted to be in L&D, Mother-baby, PICU or NICU, I am now so passionate about the NICU. I understand that some of my area (Ft Lauderdale, FL) hospitals offer internships and even hire new grads as NICU nurses. My question is for new grads who were hired into one of these internships or straight into NICU. Could you tell me how you applied? Did you go in person? Did you speak to nurse managers or did you just send a resume. I really need guidance as to what would increase my chances. Thanks so much!

Specializes in NICU.

Try doing a search on the forum; this type of question has been asked dozens of times...

I was lucky. One of my professors at school recommended me to the ADN and got me an interview.

I knew someone that already worked at my hospital on another unit, so she gave me the contact info of the HR person she went through, and I had an interview with the NICU manager that week.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Call and ask to shadow on the unit. It is a good way to meet people and see how the unit runs. And remember, as you are checking them out, they are checking you out :)

I was lucky. I too had my preceptorship in a NICU my final semester of school and I got along with the staff so well and the nurse manager really liked me and wanted to keep me. I still formally applied to the hospital's new grad program but the manager more or less gave me a position and I just went down to HR to do the paperwork, I never had to formally interview with them, just provide them with a copy of my resume, RN license (once i had it), CPR, etc...

For me it was just knowing the right people and having a foot in the door from my preceptorship. I also emailed the nurse manager of the unit consistently asking about a job as a new grad and asking about how to go about it, which helped and also showed how much I was interested and passionate because I kept in contact with her about it constantly. It can be tough to get these specialty jobs and I just lucked out. Keep persisting- it costs hospitals a lot of $$ to train new grads especially in a specialty unit where orientation is longer- keep showing how passionate you are and good luck with the job search! I hope you find your dream job in a NICU hiring new grads (I couldn't imagine doing anything else)

Specializes in NICU.

My NICU hires new grads- lucky for me! I applied online through the hospital's website. Got a call back, interviewed in person (panel style interview), and was offered the position. As far as my resume before getting the job- BLS/CPR certified of course, current RN license in the state (GA), Pediatric summer internship at a highly rated Children's Hospital, then was offered a job as s PCA on that unit after completing the internship while I finished nursing school.

Don't worry about getting other certifications before you get the job. They'll tell you which ones they require and will most likely have you get those within a certain amount of time from your hire date. Mine requires NRP (Neonatal Resusc Program) and recommended

The internship/PCA job were at a hospital in a different state than the NICU job I was going for.

Specializes in NICU.

My NICU hires new grads- lucky for me! I applied online through the hospital's website. Got a call back, interviewed in person (panel style interview), and was offered the position. As far as my resume before getting the job- BLS/CPR certified of course, current RN license in the state (GA), Pediatric summer internship at a highly rated Children's Hospital, then was offered a job as s PCA on that unit after completing the internship while I finished nursing school. The internship/PCA job were at a hospital in a different state than the NICU job I was going for.

Don't worry about getting other certifications before you get the job. They'll tell you which ones they require and will most likely have you get those within a certain amount of time from your hire date. Mine requires NRP (Neonatal Resusc Program) and recommended S.T.A.B.L.E. but does not require it. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

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