How can I land icu tech position while in nursing school?

[kht124]

Hi, I am a 3rd semester nursing student. I have been trying to get a tech job in the icu in vain. I have applied probably 6-7 times within 1 year (for 85% of icu tech jobs opened) and have only had one interview. I didn't get the job . I really want to get my foot in the door while in school to get experience and to prepare for after graduation. My dream is to work in the icu for 3-4 years and then become an icu np or a travel or flight nurse.

experience on me:

*Past job: 10 months of experience as a CMA in a ltc facility.

* Current job: 9 months (and counting) of experience PCT/health unit clerk in a rehab unit within a hospital facility (same company as CMA job, I just transferred from a ltc facility to a hospital facility).

* Current job: 3 months of experience as a student nurse tech in a step down med surg unit.

I am PRN for both of my current jobs. I like my current jobs very much and feel very blessed to have them; however, I want to pursuit my goal of getting an icu tech position. Here are my questions:

1. Could someone look over my resume to see if I am doing something wrong? (I will post it if someone will read it).

2. Is it something else that I am not seeing, that is keeping me from landing an icu job?

3. Do companies track interview records? During the one interview I got, I mentioned something extremely stupid and naive . you can look at my past threads to find out what, I wont repeat it

Could that be the reason why HR isn't looking at me?

5. If that is it, what else can I do? am I marred forever due to that incidence?

6. What advice can you give me? I would appreciate any.

Feel free to just answer one, some or all of the above. Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[ladedi]

I took an EKG Technician class last summer, but was never able to get hired as a tech at a local hospital because everyone wants 6 months experience. In the meantime, I subscribed to Learn To Read An ECG ? Sample 5-3 because the cardiologist teaching on this site is excellent. I have learned tons from him and hope to use that knowledge to secure an ICU position once I graduate from UTHHSC BSN Program next summer.

Diana

[LifesAJourney]

See if your hospital offers a cardiac monitoring class. At my hospital, they offer it periodically throughout the year. It will help. I signed up to take the class initially on my own because in nursing school, we literally had a crash course in rhythms if you would call it that. I wanted to be more proficient in interpreting rhythms. While at the same time I had a year and a half of med/surg and float pool experience as a cna under my belt including floating to various icus. When I applied for an icu nurse tech positions, the manager that hired me liked that I took the initiative to sign up for a monitoring course. In my icu we watch our own monitors and that of another icu and that is one of the duties being a tech/cna in my unit. Every tech/cna rotates with being scheduled on monitors and floor duties. As a bonus with being hired, I got paid to take the monitoring course insteading of going in on my own time. Other than my unit or a cardiac icu, the rest of our hospital relies on rhythm central to watch their patients rhythm. To recap, take any additional courses offered by your hospital to advance your chances and boost your resume. Also, look into float pool position if no icu specific position is available. At least this way you get exposure. If one does become available, put a face to a name and introduce yourself to the nurse manager of that unit. That way, you will become a memorable applicant and increase your odds of being hired.

[LifesAJourney]

If you are worried about being called off first due to low census and working in float pool, don't worry about it lol. It is VERY rare for one to be sent home, or at least at my hospital. Odds are, you will spend 4hrs in one unit/floor and the last 8hrs in a different unit/floor. Somewhere out there, there is a unit/floor short staffed that could really use the extra help!

[kht124]

Ok, I will float to icu more often. my hospital has an EKG class but I cant take it till August. I had an interview in micu at a different hospital but didnt get the job. Totaly bummed but oh well. ill just float to dif icus at my current hospitals and talk to the managers I guess.

[LifesAJourney]

Keep trying, DO NOT give up :)

[kht124]

Just wanted to update that I have been working as a nurse tech in the icu since july :). I am very happy and have learned a lot. I am also starting capstone this week in cticu at a different hospital :)

I also took the cardiac monitor class and ekg class at the hospital I work at. I haven't had a chance to work as a monitor tech yet, but it has helped with critical care class this semester. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do cardiac monitoring soon.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I took an online EKG course through the AHA and that sufficed for my tele position.

I had no idea ekg courses was offered by AHA online. I had a look at the website but not sure which one is the EKG course? The Rhythm Adult course or the STEMI course? Is there certificate of completion recognized?

[kht124]

At my hospital, the EKG course is offered after you have completed the basic cardiac monitor course (which is the course you need to take to become a monitor tech.). I got a certificate of completion for ekg course. I am not sure about the online one though. If you take it at a hospital, you get paid while learning.