LTC to NICU?

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Hi! Just looking for some advice.

I'm a new grad currently working at a long term care/rehab center full time. I'm honestly just not loving it. The pay is wonderful, benefits are great, I'm gaining experience and I do love the residents, but I never had a real desire to work with the elderly. I took this job because it was difficult to get a job in a hospital as a new grad. But now a lot of my nursing school friends have managed to get hospital jobs, and I feel that I would be happier at a hospital.

I've always dreamed of being a NICU nurse. Does anyone have some suggestions for how to get there? A lot of job openings require that you have experience for the NICU, and I'm not sure that anyone would really even consider me for the job considering I only have LTC experience. Yet it's what I've always wanted to do, and what I feel I would be happy doing. I like working with babies (as I'm sure many new grads have said before me). I just want to work in a field of nursing that I'm passionate about. I have no real desire to learn more about LTC/rehab nursing, but I think I would be much more excited about NICU nursing.

Any experience, comments, suggestions, anything?

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Hello Kelly! I would suggest that you try to get your foot in the door of a hospital first then work your way to NICU. You are right it is difficult from what I here as a new grad to get a job in the hospital setting but you have to keep plugging in until you get in. Also, look into if there are any type of particular certifications you may need to work with babies. Good Luck

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LTC gives you some experience to ready you for med/surg in a hospital. Go work in a med/surg unit for awhile. Then apply for a specialty position.

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