How to switch from telemetry to NICU?

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Hi everybody,

First I'd like to say I'm really happy this site exists. Anyway, I'll keep it short! I've been a telemetry/medsurg nurse for 2 1/2 years. I've always wanted to work in the NICU, thats been the plan from the beginning. However I had to take what was available when I graduated nursing school. I've had enough of adult care, I'm itching to get into NICU, and it seems no local hospital (Los Angeles area) is willing to train me. They either want a nurse with prior NICU experience, or a new grad. I've made so many phone calls and visits to hospitals, I'm exhausted and feeling hopeless. How do I get in?! Thank you for any advice.

csangelic

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Specializes in NICU.

Probably your best bet is to make your entry via being an L&D nurse that can break into NICU later on or go to a children's hospital and become an acute care pediatric nurse and then make your way into NICU. But don't tell your employers of these intentions, of course!

It's so specialized that it's hard to break into if you're not coming as a new grad.

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Things were different when I first graduated nursing school in 2008! They encouraged us to get a good year of med/surg before specializing. Blah! I'm so desperate to do the nursing I went to school for. I wouldn't mind being treated/paid as a new grad and doing a program! Ugh. Thanx for your advice, I'll keep working on my goal.

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Specializes in 5years OR; NICU since Oct 2011.

Whatever you do, don't give up. NICU is what I have always wanted to do also and I a finally here... It took me along time.

I got accepted into the OR right out of school (2006). about 2 years ago I started looking into getting into a NICU. I applied at the hospital I already work at and sent a email to the manager. I got the interview...and a lot of run-a-round from HR and my department I was working in... but I kept in contact with the NICU manager, showed her how committed I was to working in her department, and a year and a half after I started talking to her, I got my transfer...

In short, you can do it! I know it's frustrating, but if you want it and work for it, you will get it! good luck.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

If you could get into a hospital that does high risk delivery that would be good too...our girls in our high risk area are pretty much like ICU nurses as the floors don't like to take the sicker moms.

Or get a foot into postpartum and nursery...then you can get a good orientation on normal newborns so that you have baby background.

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Specializes in NICU.
Things were different when I first graduated nursing school in 2008! They encouraged us to get a good year of med/surg before specializing. Blah! I'm so desperate to do the nursing I went to school for. I wouldn't mind being treated/paid as a new grad and doing a program! Ugh. Thanx for your advice, I'll keep working on my goal.

Really? That's a shame...I graduated in 2008 as well and was encouraged to apply wherever I wanted. My peds instructor in particular told us not to pay any attention to anyone who said we needed a year of med-surg.

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