How to get my foot in the door of ICU/CCU

Specialties CCU

Published

Good Morning everyone,

I am a final-semester nursing student doing rotations in critical care right now. Would any of you have any advice for getting my foot in the door for ICU or CCU as a new nurse? I've been told by HR in a few hospitals that I'd have to have experience working in an ICU or CCU unit before I could apply, which, apparently, means that I'd have to get a $11.00/hr job as an aide, even as an RN, before I could be considered. I can't afford that kind of position with a family (I'm 40!). Am I missing something?

Appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!

Specializes in Emergency.
what are those hospitals, please? I'm in central, but I"m willing to schlep :)

Check your PMs.

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Good Morning everyone,

I am a final-semester nursing student doing rotations in critical care right now. Would any of you have any advice for getting my foot in the door for ICU or CCU as a new nurse? I've been told by HR in a few hospitals that I'd have to have experience working in an ICU or CCU unit before I could apply, which, apparently, means that I'd have to get a $11.00/hr job as an aide, even as an RN, before I could be considered. I can't afford that kind of position with a family (I'm 40!). Am I missing something?

Appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!

There are plenty of hospitals that will hire new grads in all different ICU settings. I'm looking to work at a teaching hospital as a new grad because they usually hire new grads into all different settings. I'm going to the UK to finish my BSN and plan on working in one of their ICUs. Hopefully either CCU or MICU, maybe SICU, I'd like to find out more about each before I apply to one. I do know I want to work critical care though. The ICU at my hospital is a MICU but we transfer pts out if their too serious. I work their as an aide, but I think I'm going to try to get into ER rather than ICU, because I've worked as an aide in ICU and you don't get to do anything different, and you don't get to see much (from what I've seen), other than how to work some of the equipment with a few special cases from time to time, and I don't think it would take me long to learn how to work any type of equipment becuase I'm fast to learn things like that. Right now I just need more excitement than med/surg.

Anyway, there are plenty of hospitals that will hire new grads to ICUs. Check out any local teaching hospitals (hospitals in conjunction with universities and such).

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

I started in CCU as a new grad in '89. I got my foot in the door by knowing someone, & doing my last semester clinical externship (mentoring) with a nurse I knew. Then when they had a vacant position, I was offered it upon graduation. I now live 4 houses down from that nurse who mentored me! I let it be known to that staff that I wanted to work there & made as many acquaintences as I could. I ended working there 8 years before transferring to a sister hospital. I was the youngest (age & experience) nurse there for 2 years & the staff lavished attention on me to bring my skills from novice to expert. A great experience. If you are willing to jump in & do your homework. Go for it! I did. Oh, & this is how my sister in law did too. She was one on the new grads hired 2 years after me. She is now married to my brother. another long story. But she did CCU for 5 years before going to work for the cardiology group we do business with. She is now our hospital's physician liason. Her time in CCU made this happen.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

I'm going to adopt the name "nursey-poo" for my first job as a new RN!

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

Thanks for the great ideas...It's great to hear from you all in the front lines!

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