Best way to get to NICU

RN130 · Apr 5, 2006

Residency. Skip the adult floor stuff, look at larger teaching hospitals (usually the case where ever there is a level 3 any way).

NicuNightRN · Apr 5, 2006

Go straight to NICU! That's what I did (started last June). I had a residency program (still in it, actually for classes once a month) that has taught me all the fundamentals of nursing and NICU nursing at the same time. While you can certainly come to NICU from any other setting, if it is what you want to do, there's no reason not to start there!

Hooligan · Apr 5, 2006

Go straight to NICU! That's what I did (started last June). I had a residency program (still in it, actually for classes once a month) that has taught me all the fundamentals of nursing and NICU nursing at the same time. While you can certainly come to NICU from any other setting, if it is what you want to do, there's no reason not to start there!

I was under the impression that starting of in the NICU directly was a huge no-no. Do NICU's genearlly hire new grads right off the bat? I don't know how comfortable I'd be since I literally have NO medical experience except clinicals.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2006

If you can find a nursing internship program for new grads (some people also call it a nursing residency) that's the way to go. They should start pretty much from square one. It's a hard unit to start on, but if it's what you want to do, it's definitely worth the effort.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2006

I was under the impression that starting of in the NICU directly was a huge no-no. Do NICU's genearlly hire new grads right off the bat? I don't know how comfortable I'd be since I literally have NO medical experience except clinicals.

The majority of NICUs hire new grads. If you do a search of this forum you'll find a bunch of posts about this, but I'll recap it for you...

It's a MUST to find a hospital that has a good new grad program. Some call them internships, some call them residencies, others just say it's an orientation program. What you want is to find someplace that promises AT LEAST 3 months of orientation. Some places go as far as a year, but most places have you taking your own patents at 3 months. Larger teaching or chidren's hospitals are good places to look for these kinds of programs, but many smaller community hospitals offer similar deals.

For someone who wants to experience multiple areas of nursing during their career, I recommend at least a year of med-surg after graduation to get the skills down. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the learning curve is only just beginning when you graduate and start working. You will always have that med-surg experience to fall back on, and it looks outstanding on a resume.

Now, there are people like myself, who could not imagine doing anything BUT neonatal nursing. I went straight into it as a new grad. This has it's pros and cons. Pros: getting to do what I wanted right away, not having to "unlearn" adult skills, never getting burned out because I hated my job, etc. Cons: if I wanted to do anything other than neonatal, at this point, I'd be SOOOO lost. I mean, NICU is so specialized, it would be a huge step back for me to go to an adult area - it'd be like I was a new grad all over again.

If you don't want to, or can't, start in NICU right away but want to get experience in a related area...newborn nursery is always a good idea. You get experience with both sick and healthy newborns and it's very valuable experience. However, many hospitals no longer have actual newborn nurseries and keep the babies roomed in with their mothers, so it might not be an option. Peds and PICU are helpful, too.

Call the nursing recruiters at nearby hospitals and ask if they hire new grads into the NICU. Good luck!

cathys01 · Apr 5, 2006

Yes, NICU's take new grads in residency/internship programs. You may have to do some hunting to find one that is currently hiring, and be aware that it is very competitive (at my hospital, the NICU director had several hundred applicants for 4 internship positions in the NICU), but if you can get one it is the best way to go. So definitely go straight to NICU if you can.

Anything you learn on adults will have to be completely re-learned to apply to neonates. I would think the same is true if you start out in regular Peds. Neonates are like a different species sometimes!!

NicuNightRN · Apr 5, 2006

I was hired as a new grad. It is very competitive, and not easy...but if you know it's what you want to do, it is well worth the effort! My only medical experience was through clinicals and school -- I never worked as an aide or anything, so it sounds like I started about where you are now. I started taking pts on my own after about 3 months, but level 2 only. Then I worked on my own for about 3 months before going back on orientation for level 3 for another month. After that last month of orientation, I can now take any pt. Do some research into the NICUs in the area that are hiring, and the kinds of programs they offer new grads! :-)

Kalico · Apr 7, 2006

I will be starting in a level III NICU in June of this year as a new grad. They do hire new grads but you have to look for one that will and has openings. That can be a little tricky but if you want NICU then go for it!! A lot of hospitals, especially teaching hospitals, prefer new grads to someone with experience in another field. That way they can teach the new grad everything instead of the person having to "unlearn" everything that they learned during their prior experience. Good luck!

stacia1056 · Apr 7, 2006

i just started working in the nicu as a nurse tech(I graduate in december 2006) I know that once I graduate I can work here in the step down unit and progress up to the more critial part of the unit. I feel that i have learned a great deal working as a nurse tech.

qbingirl · Apr 8, 2006

hello, i'm new here and want to be a NICU nurse. What hospital do you work for and how does the residency program work? do you get pay for it? i know the hospital i currently work at as a PCT and do my clinicals at does not like to hire new grads, but i'm willing to move. Thank you for your help.

Lori_RN_BSN, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2006

I applied for this NICU internship last wednesday and was called on Saturday for an interview. I went to the interview today and I think it went well but not to sure if they liked me or fit their category. They have a level III unit that is expanding within the next year or so. Their internship is 6 months of classroom time including time on the floor. The manager mentioned they had 14 applicants and out of those 14 their only picking 6. At the end of the interview I told her I was fluent in spanish so that would also be good to have a nurse who knows spanish. She is setting up a panel discussion for us to ask the new nurses questions since they just finished the internship. I should know if I'm hired April 24th. Wish me luck!! I'll keep you all posted.