Advice on how to end up in the NICU

[angelicasmth]

I am a working CNA in a LTAC Hospital, applying to the local nursing programs next fall. I am also applying to my local county hospitals internship, where you can work hands on in all departments.

MY QUESTION IS, how does one get into the NICU? I know it is a speciality, but what is the best path for a CNA, Nursing major, to go if they want to end up in the NICU some day.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Is it true that for the first year in NICU all you do is feeding?

Maybe if you work in a step down/special care nursery in a community hospital where babies transfer to step down and feed/grow.

My best friend's kid spent 5 months in the NICU at birth after being born at 23 weeks 6 days. She had to do much more than feed during her stay. She was on TPN, had bilateral IVHs, had NEC and a bowel perforation/multiple surgeries, was vented then on CPAP then oxygen by nasal cannula.

To answer the OP's question, the best way is to get your senior preceptorship in a NICU. I only remember one girl I went to nursing school with (out of our class of around 90) who was interested in NICU. She did her senior preceptorship in one and was hired in one in her home state when we graduated. As far as I know she still works there.