Any advice on how new grad can find job in ICU???

[candicenguyen]

Looking through threads, I see there is a possibility for new grad to find first job in ICU. I am interested in ICU. Any advice on how new grad can find job in ICU? is it from new grad program? Or just from regular job posting? and did you apply anyway if from regular job posting even though it is bolded and underlined saying NO NEW GRAD?

[jpeters84]

OHSU has a new grad ICU training program. There's some hospitals in the midwest that also take new grads in the ICU. Going the med-surg route and getting a few years under your belt isn't a bad way to go. But if you really want to go straight to the ICU do an ICU preceptorship and then find the hospitals that have new grad programs that train new grads to work in the ICU.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

trust me, if it says "no new grads" and you apply anyway, they'll just figure you don't know enough to follow directions, and nobody wants that nurse in an icu (or anywhere else).

overall, with the glut of experienced nurses looking for work, it's unrealistic to expect a new grad position in a real icu. get some decent experience elsewhere then apply for the jobs you're actually qualified for (see "position requirements" if in doubt).

[8mpg]

look for ICU internships from larger hospitals. Probably not the best place to start.

[alibee]

It really depends on the hospital. My husband and three in his graduating class got into the ICU as brand-new grads, and this is at a large rank-one trauma center with extremely high acuity. The nurse manager preferred "fresh blood" that she could train to run the unit her way. However, they had also worked at that hospital as techs in other areas, and had expressed interest to her in the ICU positions that were posted.

From what I've heard though, it's pretty difficult to instantly jump into any critical care position if you don't have an "in" at a hospital already. ICU requires months of training (my husband didn't go onto the floor for two months, and they gradually worked him up from one stable patient, to two stable patients, to one unstable/one stable, and finally two unstable). Since they have to put you through the critical care courses, ACLS/PALS, etc they want to be sure that you're worth the investment.