Questions on becoming a neonatal nurse

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jan 19, 2017

You first need to get your nursing degree. While it is possible to get a NICU nursing job with an associates degree, BSN will give you more options. It is possible to get a NICU job as a new grad (I did), but the hospital I work for is a Magnet Hospital which prefers a BSN.

You need to set yourself up to be the best candidate for a NICU position. My advice to give you the best advantage would be:

Attend a BSN program

Ideally, find a program with a Capstone practicum (and the ability to be paced in a NICU)

Get a job as a PCA in a NICU

Get a summer externship at a NICU

Get into a New Grad Residency in a NICU after graduation.

You don't need all of those (I only had the first 2), but any combination of those would increase your chances.

JACKIE95 · Jan 19, 2017

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! :yes:

PMurphyRN518 · Jan 23, 2017

I agree your best bet would be to go right for your bsn and follow his tips for getting into the nicu. Getting an externship or being a pca in a nicu is such a great way to not only help you land a job once you finish but it will also teach you so much while in school. I will be starting in the nicu next week and it was a much harder fought to get to my dream job. I went to a two year nursing school first and getting a hospital job after grad was slim to none. I worked in nursing homes, surgical centers, offices until I finished my bsn. The same day I graduated I started my first hosp job in adult icu. Having some work experience certainly helped me a lot. I was very organized and managed time well which helped a ton. I finally landed my dream job in the nicu at my hospital. I knew from the start I wanted to go to nicu and was upfront with everyone. I req my educator set up time for me to shadow and was able to be positive I wanted to work there and also got to know the nurses. Our hosp prefers nurses trans within so they were very helpful with helping me follow my dreams. It was much harder to go this rought but I am happy to be getting my first Nicu job. Good luck and study hard. Never give up on your dreams no matter what route you must take. I had to work full time so this route although harder was best for me and my family. Do what works best for you and know if you will it then you can make it happen. It just takes hard work and dedication. good luck

JACKIE95 · Jan 23, 2017

Thank you pmurphy for advice, congratulations and good luck on the new job :)

zackysnana · Jan 31, 2017

Definitely go for your BSN, and investigate what options there are for sr practicum, ie NICU available as a choice. I live on the west coast- NW (Oregon and Washington) are headed for BSN as the starting point, in Portland, many hospitals will soon be hiring only BSN graduates, and I know of similar plans for Seattle area. ( this may change as the next wave of baby boomers retire- I have seen this push 3 times in the last 30 years, then shortages of BSN RN's drives it back to accepting ADN) Leave your doors open, but don't go for all on line- I think you end up with far too little in clinical experience with the on line programs, no matter what they tell you one or two weeks of clinical at end of semester just doesn't provide the same experience as an ongoing in person program with regular clinicals does.

check out major hospitals near you with NICU, do they periodically have a new grad, or new to specialty program in NICU, if not you may want to consider how mobile you are once you get your BSN, for example I believe Seattle children's hospital and Swedish hospital have new grad entry programs. best of luck to you

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Jan 31, 2017

I also got a job in NICU as a new grad but the advice of trying to get a job as a nursing assistant in a NICU while you are getting your nursing degree will help! We also have a couple of nurses who were station secretaries while they were in nursing school as well so nursing assistant isn't the only job that will get your foot in the door!