How to boost a resume for NICU?

Specialties NICU

Published

Specializes in med-surg.

I just hit my 3 year mark as a med-surg/step down nurse but am trying really hard to get into NICU. I have been wanting to work NICU for quite some time now but have been applying for many NICUs around me all without success. Before this I was an LPN in a nursing home for 4 years, so all of my work experience is with adults. I had a hard time getting a hospital job as an RN as a new grad so was delighted when I finally got a position! I love all of my co-workers and I have a phenomenal manager and I know it will be sad for me to leave, but at the same time, I have never been so over med-surg and desperately need a change. I work in a very small hospital with a very small NICU so I don't believe trying to start there would be an option - I live around many large NICU's so have been trying desperately to get into them to get the best training. I've even been applying to NICUs in the city which would be about a 1.5 hour train ride and 20 minute car ride back and forth to train station each day. Besides NRP certification which has proved to be a huge challenge to try to find a private course, does anyone have any recommendations of how I could look like a more qualified candidate?

I have my Bachelors but would really like to get started on my NP but have been delaying this because I would prefer to become a NNP and I can't start applying for programs without a year of NICU experience.

I do have adult ACLS & several years of experience as a nanny along with per diem experience as a nursing supervisor of a 240 bed nursing home. Everything is so irrelevant to NICU :( I have received a nurse excellence award at my job this year and a good catch award for 2017 but are these tacky to list on a resume??

Any suggestions would be very welcomed and appreciated!

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I would look for a mother/baby position or maybe pediatric other than NICU. Then network!!

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Please reconsider applying to the NICU that is a 2 hr commute. This will be incredibly difficult and it will make it hard for you to last a sufficient amount of time there. As others have suggested if it's really difficult getting into local NICUs, look at peads or mother baby. Your med surg experience may be more transferable to these areas.

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Specializes in NICU.

Can you move out of state and apply to a wider area? I would try children's hospitals.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Good luck OP. I have been trying for about 9 years (I got my BSN in 2016 thinking it would increase my chances and also got NRP) to get into a NICU, with zero luck. I have also been trying to just get into a general peds floor, also without any luck . I have 7 years of ER experience, and 20 years of EMS experience, and still only about 3 interviews in that time and no job offers!!! It is truly frustrating to say the least. I am of course going to probably have to rethink my goal I guess, since pediatrics/NICU isn't meant to be.

Annie

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