Med-surg to NICU

[applesRN]

I really would like to be a NICU nurse, but there are never any openings at my hospital. Below is a copy of my thread on another board. Can anyone give me advice on how to get into the NICU? One things I enjoyed when working at a children's hospital was how quickly babies improved, and that your skills radar was constantly searching for slight changes in their condition.

I have been a med-surg float pool RN for 5 years. I have about a year of full time telemetry experince, too much med-surg experience, and about 4 months of peds( was short term assignment for RSV season). I have fibromyalgia and stress causes it to be worse, so the flexible schedule of the float pool has worked well for me, but lately I am so stressed over dreading work that I don't call in to get placed, which leads to lack of a decent paycheck. Which leads to bills not getting paid on time always. and that leads to stress, which leads to worse fibro ( see the pattern?) Working 24 hours of the float pool would equal working 40 hours on a regular unit ( in hourly pay only). As a float nurse, I can buy my health ins at a higher premium, but still good, and I don't have any further benefits that a FT position would have (vacation time, sick time, etc)

I had an awsome manager for 5 years who was so good to us, until she 'managed up' and a new position was created. My new manager and I just haven't gotten off to a great start. We rarely see each other, which is the norm, and she only knows what other people tell her. The hospital keeps opening new units ( I could be sent to any of around 10-12 units), and new places ( mostly bad) keep getting added to our list of units we float to. (we don't have a choice where we work).

I have asked my manager if I could cross-train to CC float pool. She was initially recpetive and then hasn't replied to my furher request. I will be doing most of the education and classes on my own time since she is not replying.

Today I had another awful day, have come home with my back aching, and a dread of working again this weekend...... I am a single mom of a 14 yo daughter, I love my flexibilty but I am thinking it may be time to move to a stable unit full time. I work another job at an eye center one day a week. If I leave the pool, and try to rejoin later, I will have to take 6 months of working evening shift ( the worst).

I am in a tough financial situation right now, and am considering quitting the hospital so I can access my 403b retirement account o pay back bills. My plan would be to find a surgery center or clinic that I like- but I have a strong feeling I will just end up back at the hospital within a few months.

I have always wanted to work in the NICU or nursery, but I have heard some say mother- unit is hard ( the visitors and pts being demanding and rude). NICU would be more my style I think, although I might enjoy L+D.

If not in one of those areas, I'd like to be in an ICU. Then, if I did go back to the float pool, I would say I wanted to be placed in the ICU division ( although I forsee her saying that I would have to accept med-surg or ICU assignments.) There aren't any openings in any of those units, though. There are some cardiac cath lab openings. There are only a few positions outside of the hospital advertised that I would desire.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Thanks!