Hopeful NICU RN

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 22, 2021

At this point there is little you can do. An externship, Capstone, PCA job in the NICU would have been the most helpful. A New Grad Residency would have also been a good pathway, but you can't move. Your biggest asset is your Lactation certification. NRP and STABLE are nice to have, but they are part of every new hire orientation, so it is not a big advantage. PALS has little value to NICU. NICU nurses are not required to obtain and maintain PALS certification.

I would see if you could do a job shadow day in the NICU close to graduation and then follow up with an email to the NICU Manager when you apply for the job.

Nueticles · Jun 23, 2021

5 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

At this point there is little you can do. An externship, Capstone, PCA job in the NICU would have been the most helpful. A New Grad Residency would have also been a good pathway, but you can't move. Your biggest asset is your Lactation certification. NRP and STABLE are nice to have, but they are part of every new hire orientation, so it is not a big advantage. PALS has little value to NICU. NICU nurses are not required to obtain and maintain PALS certification.

I would see if you could do a job shadow day in the NICU close to graduation and then follow up with an email to the NICU Manager when you apply for the job.

I have read so many of your posts and love reading your advice. I’m a fan! It’s so good to be able to know what will need to be done in the future. What to do, what not to do. What to have, what not to have. Especially what not to worry about as it will be included in certain orientations or provided by the hospital.

Thank you for sharing your expertise!