How Do I Prepare???

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

Does your school allow you to choose a clinical area for a "senior clinical"? If so, that would be an excellent place to start. If not, then ask your peds or OB instructor to help you find a volunteer or shadow opportunity in a hospital in your area. Do any hospitals in your area have a volunteer cuddler program in the NICU, or utilize volunteers to support unaccompanied mothers in labor? Does your school offer any electives in high-risk OB, PICU or NICU?

I don't typically recommend spending a lot of time or money on studying NICU journals or textbooks. They are expensive, time consuming, and difficult to understand for someone who has no hands-on experience. Instead, begin to focus on preparing to "sell" yourself to a nurse recruiter or manager. Prepare a list of the qualities that you believe will make you a good NICU nurse: attention to detail, interest in working with patients and families over the long-term, desire to learn a variety of clinical skills and care for patients with a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions, interest in teaching, interest in working as a team with numerous other disciplines.

Most large NICUs in teaching/referral hospitals will hire new grads, as they have large RN staffs that can accomodate new employees needing lengthy orientation. Look for a unit that offers a minimum of 3 mos orientation, including both classroom time and clinical supervision 1:1 with a consistent preceptor. Ask how you will be "mentored" once you have completed orientation and begin to work on your own. Ask about educational opportunities for programs such as NRP (neonatal resuscitation program) and CEUs (which may be needed to maintain your license).

Ask about the ratio of experienced RNs to newbies on the unit as a whole, and the shift you will work. RUN away from any unit that has less than 50% experienced (2 years or more on that unit) RNs. It takes about 2 years of full-time work to become a NICU expert. Until that time, you will need the support and guidance of more experienced staff to assist you in patient care. Don't take a job on any unit that can't provide you with that support, or you will regret it!

In your rush to find a NICU position, don't forget to consider family issues. If you move, will you have help with child care? How will you handle work if you have a sick child at home? Be sure you have adequate support at home to make your first job successful!

Best of luck to you!