I am so excited because I just accepted an RN position in a level III NICU! It is my dream job. I am still in disbelief that I was offered this position fresh out of nursing school with no prior experience. I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity!
I start in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any recommendations to help me make the most of my time between now and starting, or my time during orientation? I am so excited and ready to learn and become the best RN I can be.
Thank you in advance for any and all recommendations!
One question, do you guys really think buying the books are a must? I know my place does the NRP training in the first month, and I'm wondering if they will provide certain texts. I was looking at the Merenstein & Gardner's Handbook, it seems like everyone has given it good reviews.
I have the Merensein book. I would also recommend the STABLE Handbook. I just took the course on Monday and the book has a lot of good information.
I had a two week new grad residency orientation program I had to go through before coming on the floor. It was for all new grads and was more relevant to adult floors. We did not discuss much about the NICU.
I just started in the NICU 2 weeks ago! I started in the class room though for 2 weeks before that. I have 5 books- physical assessment of the newborn, STABLE, Merenstein and Gardner, the NRP book, and core curriculum. Thanks for starting a thread again, it's totally needed :)
Hi everyone! Just wanted to thank you all for contributing to this thread, it has been great to read as I am interviewing next week for a NICU position and I wanted to know what to expect IF i am offered a job (which I truly hope I am, because it's my dream job too!) Thanks everyone!
It's definitely been nice hearing about so many new grads being hired for NICU positions! I'm a new grad as well and it's been about a month since I passed the NCLEX. There have been a few positions posted for the NICU but I have never received a call for an interview. Hearing so many of you accepting positions gives me hope for the future! I'm planning on taking ACLS and PALS certification classes to help beef up my resume, so hopefully this helps. Good luck to everyone starting their rotations and to those who have already started!!
If you are interested in specifically the NICU I would recommend taking NRP and STABLE over PALS or ACLS as they are more specific to the NICU. Good luck!
Kayb0ne good luck at your interview and let us know how it goes :)
Congrats! :) I working on starting an Graduate Entry program at OSU to take my BS in chemistry into a NNP in the next 6 years. I would be a NICU RN for two years as part of the program (if I choose the NICU path). Do you still like the NICU since you got hired earlier this year? I just want to know all that I can about the unit before I declare it on my application.
Thank you and congrats again! To all of you who got new jobs!
I am glad to hear you love the NICU. I have heard good things about it. I am very excited and hopefully get accepted and start there soon. I am going to try to find a PCA job in the NICU somewhere so it can help me write my personal statement.
I know a little about the process. But not much about the program itself. I think OSU has a high reputation and would be a good choice no matter the certification you're looking for. I am going to hopefully get into the Graduate Entry program which is for non nursing bachelors holders. I would be going to classes full time for 1.5 years then work in the NICU as an RN for 2 years (if I pass the NCLEX), then going back to finish the last 1.5 years of the program to end up with my MSN and then take the testing for my NNP. That program is different from the others due to the fact I need 2 years of RN NICU experience before being allowed to finish my MSN and NNP certs.
I can't wait to start this new chapter in my life.
NICU Guy, BSN, RN
4,161 Posts
I start night shift next week. Three more weeks orientating on night shift and then the training wheels come off.