Almost graduate looking for a little advice

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I graduate from my ADN program in about 3 weeks, and will take my NCLEX exam in July. During my semester I had a spinout in the NICU at the hospital and I just loved it. They offered me a job, but i didnt take it since i have to move to Salt Lake when schools out. Anyways, my original play was just go get a job at a hospital doing med/surg, but now I'm just stuck because i want to work at an NICU, but I still feel like it would be wise to get the med/surg experience as a base. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks very much in advance!!

Chris

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You should take a position in your area of interest. If NICU is what turns you on, than that is where you should go. I don't think spending a year on a med-surg unit is going to make you a better NICU nurse.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Go with NICU if you can find a job in it. I am a new grad and I am on the neuroscience floor. Your still learning basic skills like IV's, assessments, critical thinking etc. I think that 1 year of med surg thing is just a general statement that everyone says. Its not gonna make or break you in the nursing world. I think the key is getting expereince.

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Specializes in Pulmonary, MICU.

In agreement with the above posters. Med/Surg might make you a better MICU or SICU nurse, but the skill set for the NICU is so specialized that I doubt it's going to help out at all. If you can go straight into NICU, do it!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

As a former NICU manager, I can assure you that med-surg experience is not necessary for a NICU applicant.

Most large NICUs prefer to hire new grads, as it is much easier to learn the "mindset" of a NICU nurse if you don't have to "unlearn" the adult mindset first.

Find a unit with an extensive orientation (12+ weeks), 1:1 with a consistent preceptor and a session of classroom instruction in addition to clinical training.

Good luck to you!

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Stay with the NICU, if you found something that you love stick with it. even if you have mad med/surg skills now, you can always get them back easily. If your med/surg skills are lacking now than you have nothing to lose.

I know that I could improve my skills in med/surg, but I would dread going to work every day and would soon burn out. If I can find that position that is intresting to to me then it will be that much easier in the long run.

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Thanks so much for the advice! I think ill do exactly that!

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