Teacher said NOWAY....new grad hiring into ICU positions

Specialties Critical

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So at clinicals today i expressed my desire to go into the critical care specialty after i graduated and she said theres no way new grads get ICU jobs....but everday i log on here i read about new grads getting ICU jobs right out of college. Any pointers on how i can make this happen? I won't settle for anything else and willing to work hard to get in there.

Specializes in Psych Nursing.

I would also recommend doing a "ride along" with a Flight Nurse or Surface Critical Transport Nurse if you can, just to make sure "critical" is what you want. Try to shadow an ER Nurse and a Critical Care Nurse if you can. It's all about networking!

Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.
So at clinicals today i expressed my desire to go into the critical care specialty after i graduated and she said theres no way new grads get ICU jobs....but everday i log on here i read about new grads getting ICU jobs right out of college. Any pointers on how i can make this happen? I won't settle for anything else and willing to work hard to get in there.

Palmetto Richland MICU in Columbia, SC, hires new grads all the time. the turnover is attrocious because they start you out at like 18/hr. Community is inexpensive to live in, but if you aren't after money...

If you can work days on that unit. You can work anywhere. And that is the best team i have worked with in 3 states.

Thanks everyone for your responses! So i been doing a little bit of research on hospitals in my area and all of the ones i researched has new residency programs. Some if not all require 2 year commitments (not a problem) One program which is at the hospital I want actually has a 2 year residency then an additional 2 year commitment.

1. Can you be an employee at a hospital and get an externship at the same hospital? how would that work?

2. I am getting a ADN (2nd degree, BA in biology) so the hospitals I am looking into accepts ADN graduates but would BSN grad really be looked upon first? I plan on including in my cover letter my goals of obtaining my BSN (hopefully i will already be accepted into one prior to applying)

3. I graduate July 2013 so when should i began making moves (securing a tech/assitant job, externships, etc)

Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

2 year residency? that doesnt makes sense.

I got a critical care job right after graduation...you teacher is very wrong.

2 year residency? that doesnt makes sense.
In what way? I thought the two years was a bit much but that's what it says.
Specializes in ICU.

same here I did not even try. I applied and got a job offer in Trauma ICU, in 10 days. Level one in case your wondering.

Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

Most residencies for RNs are @6 months tops for ICU. 2 year committment maybe but not on your own as an RN for 2 years is ridiculous

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In what way? I thought the two years was a bit much but that's what it says.

I'd read the fine print. I have not seen a 2 year residency with an additional 2 year commitment. It would be unlikely any hospital would keep you on orientation for that long....it just isn't cost effective. What facility is this?

Not true. Fransican Alliance hires new grads into ICU's. 14 hospitals mostly in Indiana and a couple in Illinois.

Here is the quote from the hospital's website:

RNs wishing to change specialties

The residency program only focuses on four nursing specialties: Critical Care, Perinatal Nursing, Emergency Care and Perioperative, and takes 24 months to complete.

Participants are asked to commit to working at Grady for 24 months once they complete the residency program.

Specializes in ICU.
Here is the quote from the hospital's website:

RNs wishing to change specialties

The residency program only focuses on four nursing specialties: Critical Care, Perinatal Nursing, Emergency Care and Perioperative, and takes 24 months to complete.

Participants are asked to commit to working at Grady for 24 months once they complete the residency program.

That is wild. What happens if you leave after the first 24 months?

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