I know I'm in the boat with a lot of other wonderful people, but im a new grad RN (passed boards last week) seeking NICU. I live in the metro Detroit area of Michigan, and all the NICUs here are packed to the brim. I cannot find any openings in peds or PICU either Unfortunately my house burned down in June and though its the hardest thing ive ever been through, it's left me with no ties to this state and its awful economy.
When i got into nursing school i had no clue what I wanted to do, all i knew i DID NOT want to do was NICU! Those tiny babies scared the ba-jeezus out of me. But then during my OB rotation, i shadowed in NICU and fell in love (I have shadowed in 3 other NICUs since). Im a NANN member and even went to the "Evidence vs. Experience in Neonatal Practices" 2 day conference in Chicago back in July. I know my heart belongs in NICU and that I want to help babies and thier famlies...Ive applied to atleast 35 or so jobs across the country and no bites yet.
Im willing to go ANYWHERE in the USA to get my foot in the door of NICU nursing...so does anyone know any NICUs in need of RNs? Or any advice on what I can do to make myself more appealing on paper for people far away?
Thanks for any info, and god bless all of you guys already in the NICU! :)
Congratulations on the interview! I am also from Michigan and looking for a NICU job. I noticed last month you posted that you interviewed at a hospital with five open positions in the NICU. Was this in Michigan? If so would you mind saying which hospital?
Well, apparently the interview must not have gone as well as I thought it did (the 5 positions were contingent). I'm still on the job hunt, but did just interview in Wisconsin for a NICU job and have another interview Monday in West Virginia for NICU and PICU so I'm crossing my fingers, im getting so tired of this search but I dont want to give up on my dream
The jobs were at Hurley Medical Center in Flint. They have a very nice recruiter named Gayle. I dont know if they are currently hiring again or not, but good luck!:heartbeat
I actually just moved back from southwest Kansas where I had a job on the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Unit. It is a small hospital but it is still experience (the NICU is a level II). I really liked my job but I had to move back to Michigan for a family emergency. If you would be interested in moving out of state the hospital is St. Catherine Hospital. They hired me as a new grad with no experience. Let me know if you would be interested.
After 8 months of searching I got 2 job offers at once!!
I accepted a full time position in the NICU at West Virginia University Hospital! Thank you to everyone for your advice, even though many people told me to "settle" and do med-surg and that I was "being too picky" I succeeded! I am so excited that I am now a future NICU nurse!!! (I start Nov. 30th)
After 8 months of searching I got 2 job offers at once!!
I accepted a full time position in the NICU at West Virginia University Hospital! Thank you to everyone for your advice, even though many people told me to "settle" and do med-surg and that I was "being too picky" I succeeded! I am so excited that I am now a future NICU nurse!!! (I start Nov. 30th)
Good for you! I am willing to move (just about) anywhere, too. I looked at Hermann Memorial in Houston but couldn't find any NICU openings. I applied at a hospital in Aurora, WI (though I really don't want to move up North) and St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, AR. I love babies.
i did a little searching of my own trying to find positions available in nicu. there are a bunch in oh, tx, and ca. there is a website i use to look up positions at multiple hospitals in different states. it will list all hospitals in that state and then you can search if they have nicu. the website is: http://www.theagapecenter.com/hospitals/[state name].htm. just put in the name of the state you want to search (without the brackets!). it will list all hospitals within that state in alphabetical order and also tell you what city and county it is in. if you click on a hospital you want to look at, it redirects you to that hospitals page. it is really a great way to look for jobs. i check the hospitals i am interested in at least once a week. now am trying to broaden my search because there is nothing here in il and not a whole hell of a lot in wi either (for the past 9 mos!!!).
looking at tx but wondering how to do that. can't afford to travel for an in person interview and can't afford to pay for another license (since il has yet to become a nurse license compact state!!). my wi license is a one state license because i do not live in wi.
Unfortunately my house burned down in June and though its the hardest thing ive ever been through, it's left me with no ties to this state and its awful economy. 
NurseDevonL
57 Posts
Well, apparently the interview must not have gone as well as I thought it did (the 5 positions were contingent). I'm still on the job hunt, but did just interview in Wisconsin for a NICU job and have another interview Monday in West Virginia for NICU and PICU so I'm crossing my fingers, im getting so tired of this search but I dont want to give up on my dream
The jobs were at Hurley Medical Center in Flint. They have a very nice recruiter named Gayle. I dont know if they are currently hiring again or not, but good luck!:heartbeat