how do i become a NICU nurse?

[pietrami]

Hi, I'm starting school this fall as a pre-nursing major at Seton Hall.

I would love to become a NICU nurse, and i was wondering what i need to do to become one?

Would just graduating and passing the NCLEX be enough?

[swirlything]

I got hired into NICU straight out of school, so did a friend of mine. So at least at some hospitals, passing NCLEX is all that is required.

[ok2bme]

I'm in nursing school and NICU is by far my top choice of specialty. I think most wannabe NICU nurses have a harder time landing a job than the poster above me. It is one of the more competitive specialties. I'll tell you what I'm doing to make me a better candidate..I am a Tech at a Pediatric ER, I'm in the process of becoming a volunteer cuddler in the NICU, & I worked my hiney off in OB and Peds clinical to use those instructors as references. Don't get the impression it's easy to get hired as a new grad into the NICU. Do everything you can to give yourself an advantage! Good luck!

[ACKrissy]

I just graduated and am a NICU nurse. Yes, the only requirements for me (on paper) were to graduate from nursing school and pass the NCLEX. However, they look at other things as well. They look at your personality, why you want to be a NICU nurse, etc. Being a NICU nurse is SO different than what you learn in nursing school. As one of the previous posters wrote, I would definitely do something to try to get some experience in the NICU. Work as a tech, volunteer, or secretary there. That's what I did, and it made a HUGE difference in the difficulty as a new grad. Good luck!