ADN Graduate Dec 2019 - Neonates Interest

[Okey Foley, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone,

I'll be graduating this December and am currently looking into jobs in my area and I'm struggling with what is difficult to get into (which I'm okay with!), and what is just not realistic. Many of our hospitals now are BSN preferred, though they absolutely hire ADNs (Raleigh, NC). Within any specialties with babies, however it seems to be more challenging. I did my OB rotation and absolutely loved L&D, Nursery, and Mother Baby (Postpartum). I really found myself drawn to the babies. I'm mostly interested in pursuing NICU and there are lots of reasons why (I'll list below if anyone's interested, but not critical to this post). I am willing to relocate basically anywhere. I've traveled a lot all over the US but lived in this area since I was 8 and would love a change of scenery. I'd be open to staying in Raleigh too, however. Does anyone have any suggestions or input on areas I could look into possibly applying to? I understand I cannot be as choosy in this first job, but at least I would like to start working with babies since their physiology and care is so different. NICU, Special Care Nursery, or Mother Baby are the three units I feel fit this.

I do not have CNA hospital experience though I did work hospice home care and in LTC. I am working on my NRP certification right now and will have it over the summer.

Why NICU:
-during L&D seeing small human come into the world and wanting to work more with the baby than with the mother
-working with the newborn nursery RNs
-love lectures on baby physiology and adaptations from fetal state
- saw video of NICU in class and researched on my own: NICU create "external womb", parent teaching, critical care (challenging and complex), all body systems, both tough and compassionate, support little ones fighting from the beginning, longer term relationships than floor nursing (aspect of hospice I love), lower patient ratio able to focus on each baby more

I appreciate anyone's input!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I started in the NICU as a new grad. I applied to between 50-100 openings, primarily in NICU. One of my job offers was from Vidant Children's Hospital in Greenville, NC. They have a new grad residency. It is a Level III NICU. I ended up choosing a Level IV NICU at a children's hospital with ECMO and NICU/PICU transport team.

My advice is to apply nationwide and be willing to move anywhere in the country to get a few years NICU experience. Once you get 2-3 yrs experience, you will be a lot more valuable to employers if you want to move somewhere more desirable. The higher the Level NICU you start out in, the better your choices are if you want to move.