Looking for tips on landing an ICU job.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 16, 2005

How well is she marketing herself? Applying for a job as a nurse requires marketing of yourself, just like in any other category. Is she asking appropriate questions? Is she seeming interested when interviewing?

Once you have that RN after your name, it has nothing to do with scores in school or grades for the most part, but on how well that you sell yourself.

If the others have gotten hired, she needs to first take a closer look at what she is doing or not doing to get the position.

Dinith88 · Jul 16, 2005

I'm telling her that she should take ACLS and PALS on her own dime (about $150.00 each at a local hospital) as this will make her a slightly better prospect. Is there anything else she can do?

ICU's are weird. Most do prefer some type of experience as it makes the transition easier. However, new grads occaisionally get hired because they more easily 'molded' into icu nurses (at least in theory)...although it usually takes a wee longer for them. I think with new grads it's simply the luck of the draw...or the bias of the interviewer. I wouldnt worry if i were her, she's only 7 months into her nursing career...there will undoubtedly be opportunity for her in the future. (also, if she's attempting to transfer within the same hospital, the management may discourage this as she's really not put that much time on her current floor...after all, they've invested alot of time and energy into orientating her (a new grad!) on this unit)

Also, if she's currently not on a unit that has telemetry or otherwise deals with cardiac-type patients, it may be a waste of your money to go through ACLS as she'll probably not retain it if she's not utilizing it. BTW, if she's only 7 months into her career, she should probably take one step at a time and go to tele and/or EKG classes as a precursor to acls. Has she ever considered a move to a step-down or similar setting? It's a GREAT warm-up to icu-type patients...

Bekahlynn · Jul 16, 2005

Roland, if I remember from a previous post, you live in Indy. I just graduated a couple of months ago, and just took the NCLEX three weeks ago. I was hired and am now working in an ICU. I worked on this same unit for a year as a SNE. However, the hospital is not a trauma center. I will be on nights when I am done with orientation. Another hospital within our system hired several new graduates for ICU and PCU positions. They are out there, you just have to look outside of the downtown area. Best wishes.

sway · Jul 17, 2005

Viva Indy! I spent the first 18 years of my life there!

I agree, go to any hospital that will take you in the ICU. I think the next best thing would be to work in a step down unit, PCU, or a cardiac/tele floor. Many hospitals offer internships for RNs looking to switch specialties, and all the ones I've seen are fully paid per your normal wage. Be agressive and go meet with the director of the unit, get a tour. I would suggest maybe asking the director if getting ACLS would help your chances, but I wouldn't just take it on my own dime. It's too nice to get paid for it!

ICU demand is quite high in most places right now, so I think with persistence, you'll get in. Good luck!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2005

Roland,

Does your wife REALLY want to be in an ICU? Or is this just part of your decided upon plan for your lives, as you have discussed so many times. Does she really want to be a CRNA? Of her own accord, without your coaching and pushing or pressure?

We have heard about your plans for your life together with your child? But we have not heard her voice in this plan. We know that she has trouble with smells/nausea and that she doesn't like you spending so much time on the Internet.

It should be fairly easy to get an ICU position at her career point. As I am sure that you have looked over her resume and her creds are plus, I must think that it might have to do with how she presents herself either in interview and/or at work. If she is doing this to make you happy and it is not what she is comfortable with in her life at this time, this frequently will come through in her work or her manners at interview. This is also not something that you can force, without serious repercussions.

This does not mean that she may not be more comfortable with the ICU later on. It does not mean that she may not be more comfortable with the CRNA a bit later than you planned. But it is never good to keep pushing forward at light speed if one is not ready. No matter how much her beloved spouse desires it. The ICU is not a good place to be unless your heart and soul is in it. And it matters not all that your husband really wants it for you and that it would be "good" for our family.

I say get a year of time on one unit and then try to transfer. But if the transfer does not happen, it is for a reason (even if only known to G-d, and G-d alone). Ease up on the schedule a bit, ease up on the overanalyzing, and spend time with your wife. Encourage her to tell you what she feels.....about the Internet, about CRNA, about ICU and hospital work....and find out WHAT SHE WANTS (without input/pressure from you) and what she is comfortable with, right here and now.

mattsmom81 · Jul 20, 2005

'I agree, go to any hospital that will take you in the ICU'----Sway

Believe me, you want to be a bit pickier... some places are happy to have a warm body, and will place a new grad in ICU and let them hang themselves. Look for a facility with a dedicated internship/preceptor program...with time in the classroom before you are placed in the unit.

I wouldn't recommend 'just any ICU for new grads or anyone new to critical care.

dgudmestad · Aug 1, 2005

She needs to market herself a little. She should be able to transfer with 7 months experience, though some places like a year. I advise taking ACLS. I took it right out of school before being able to read strips and I think it was easier. I took a long 6 week class at a community college. ACLS is mostly "ventricular" related and these are the easiest to learn since they're so large and different looking. She could also take a basic EKG class. Many hospitals offer these free to their employees. Some places have excellent ICU fellowships....she should definitely check into those too. Good luck!

My wife plans to go to CRNA school and would like to get at least two, but preferably three or more years ICU experience before applying. However, she has not been able to find an ICU job yet. She has worked Med/Surg at her hospital's level one trauma floor for almost seven months. What is most distressing (at least to me) is that she had three fellow classmates (two of which also plan on applying to the same CRNA school as she) who obtained ICU jobs straight out of the same ASN/ADN class that she graduated from (and she had a 3.7 GPA, passed her NCLEX with 75 questions on her first try, and scored 1500 on her SAT's while one of the other students had to take NCLEX twice and none of the other two had better than B/C average in nursing school). She has two years experience as a home health aide/CNA, and several years as an EMT on her local volunteer fire dept. However, all of the ICU's that she talks to say they want two years experience (even the one's that hired her classmates straight out of school).
Is there some sort of "unwritten" rule that ICU's will hire straight out of school, but not someone who is already a nurse, but who doesn't have two years experience? I'm telling her that she should take ACLS and PALS on her own dime (about $150.00 each at a local hospital) as this will make her a slightly better prospect. Is there anything else she can do?