Does your NICU still hire new grads?

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I know of one that still does, but it's very, very far away. I'm in southeastern Michigan and will graduate with my BSN this August. I've wanted to work in the NICU before I started nursing school. I've been looking forward to doing my preceptorship in the NICU, but due to a general shortage of preceptors I will be in OB instead. I know it is a related area and for that I'm grateful, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't deeply disappointed. I still desperately want to work in a NICU after graduation and I'm willing to relocate to do so. I'm trying to find out what hospitals will still hire a new grad straight into the NICU, and if so, if it's possible to get such a position if I don't have any personal connections. I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau, have great recommendations, and have personal experience in the NICU from having my own children. I do not, however, work in the healthcare field. Wish I did/could, but all of my current work experience is unrelated. I'm looking into volunteering at hospitals and I'm hoping that will help my resume.

I know it seems extreme to relocate my entire family for a specialty job, but Michigan is not in good shape right now. Also my oldest starts kindergarten this fall and if I'm going to have to move for a job I'd rather it not be in the middle of the school year. So here I am. Hoping to get a job in a specialty I love, and wondering where to start looking.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Northwest Ohio is not much better which is where I am,but I know the hospital I work for hires new grads, but there hasnt been many positions lately. You should look into Nurse residencies. Seems like the way to get into specialties these days. Good Luck.

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Specializes in NICU.

If you're willing to move, it shouldn't be too hard to get a job...what I did was look up the best children's hospitals and then based on locations that I'd like to live, I contacted the managers of the NICU to ask about their new grad programs...just applying through websites isn't enough and you'll get much better information that way; you don't want to spend a lot of time on an app when they're not even hiring realistically, for example. Good luck!

If you can swing it, getting NRP would be beneficial and look good on your resume too....

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Thank you very much, that's what I'll do. When would you recommend calling? I was told to start applying 2-4 weeks before graduation, but I should find out where I should be applying to before then.

If you can swing it, getting NRP would be beneficial and look good on your resume too....

Thanks for the suggestion, I looked and found quite a few instructors in my area, including my favorite clinical instructor! So I'll see if any of them would be teaching a class this summer. I'm precepting in May and most of June so I'll have a lot of time to get extra experience in while I study for the NCLEX. Unfortunately my school won't let me graduate until August but hopefully I can schedule the NCLEX soon after.

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I would recommend applying 2-4 MONTHS before graduation. I got my new grad nicu position 5 months before graduation and 8 months before the position actually started

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I would recommend applying 2-4 MONTHS before graduation. I got my new grad nicu position 5 months before graduation and 8 months before the position actually started

Wow, point taken. From the nurse recruiters I've spoken to they recommend 2-4 weeks because the jobs around here go very quickly. But I can see how a NICU new grad program can be in a very different time frame. Thanks!

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