How to market myself to future NICU jobs

Specialties NICU

Published

Okay so heres the run down.

I currently work in a level 3 NICU & I absolutely love it. I do not want to work in a lower level NICU. I'm a new grad almost at my 1 year mark, been off orientation/on my own since Feb. Now heres where it gets tricky... my NICU doesn't train to level 3 right away. There are people barely getting their level 3 training now after being here 2 years. It's not a me thing, its just how the unit does it.

So how do I market myself to future jobs? I plan to move in the next 1-2 years. And I want to work in a level 3 NICU. Idk how to say "I work in a level 3 but I'm only level 2 trained". I guess I can say that but I feel like it looks like I'm at fault (or not prepared to be trained to level 3).

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

Are the levels separate physically? Are there different names outside the door if so? Separate staffs as far as scheduling? I think I would just say level 2 experience on my resumé, and then if I get an interview further explain the policy like you did here. I've never heard of this being done if it's all one unit....

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Specializes in NICU.
On 8/26/2019 at 2:17 AM, nursebreeeee said:

There are people barely getting their level 3 training now after being here 2 years. It's not a me thing, its just how the unit does it.

Is there a set schedule for level 3 training? Maybe those people have not voiced their desire for higher acuity patients.

I was given 12 weeks orientation (Level IV) and then on my own. We are expected to be able to handle high acuity patients after orientation, but you are given the lower acuity patients for the first few months to get you comfortable being on your own. Then they start progressively giving you higher acuity patients, but you are never alone, there is always experienced nurses around you as a resource person. I started getting the very sick babies at the 12 month mark, but didn't feel completely comfortable handling the very sickest until the 18 month mark. You need to keep management aware of your comfort level and when you are ready to step up your game and take the sicker babies.

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On 9/3/2019 at 2:16 PM, Elaine M said:

Are the levels separate physically? Are there different names outside the door if so? Separate staffs as far as scheduling? I think I would just say level 2 experience on my resumé, and then if I get an interview further explain the policy like you did here. I've never heard of this being done if it's all one unit....

Yeah its a very strange way to do things. Its all one 32 bed unit. And no it can vary room to room, a feeder grower can be next to a vented baby. So they are constantly having to move us when scheduling to ensure theres a good enough "skills mix" aka enough people who can handle the sickest level 3 babies.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
On 9/19/2019 at 2:31 PM, nursebreeeee said:

Yeah its a very strange way to do things. Its all one 32 bed unit. And no it can vary room to room, a feeder grower can be next to a vented baby. So they are constantly having to move us when scheduling to ensure theres a good enough "skills mix" aka enough people who can handle the sickest level 3 babies.

That's kind of crazy, you need different environments to some extent with different levels. And if all the f&g's were in one room then they wouldn't have to move nurses around.

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