Soon to Grad

I am assuming you are referring to Neonatal instead of Neuro because NeoICU seems to be an area sought by many new grads - and they run screaming at the thought of working in Neuro - LOL. In my area of the country, these training programs are filled even before they are announced - by new grads who have an inside source.

I am curious as to why you feel that this is your 'calling'. My background is Critical Care & I have worked all areas, including NICU (Neo & Neuro). Although I did find working in Neo much less physically taxing, it was way too ethically distressing for me. I gladly headed back to working with adults at the first opportunity.

There are a few that I know of.

University of Colorado Hospital: Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program - University of Colorado Hospital
(next cohort's application is in march)

Vanderbuilt University Medical Center: Nurse Residency Program (New Grads) - Pediatric Track

Both of these are extremely competitive. UCH for the upcoming cohort starting in Feburary received 500+ applications for 30 spots.


There's another hospital in Colorado that I'm pretty sure will consider new grads for NICU, St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs. No idea what their training or support is like for new grads however.