My heart belongs to the Neonates and I need your help!

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

Hello everyone,

So, I am in need of the awesome support and advice of my fellow allnurses members! For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a NICU nurse. I took the initiative to obtain my NRP prior to graduating thinking this would give me a leg up on other fellow new grads entering the NICU. The only Children's Hospital in my area had very limited "New Grad" NICU positions, which as you can imagine, was very competitive. Unable to secure a job at the Children's Hospital I relocated to another state and received a job on an Adult Med-Surg unit. I have been on the unit for 6 months now and while I love being a RN I have concluded that Adult Med-Surg is not my cup of tea...patient to nurse ratio is ridiculous and I really don't like working with adults. However, all things considered, I look at everything in my life as a learning experience and I am learning a lot, but my heart and passion are with the neonates.

Here's where I need your help. I really want to follow my heart and as I research NICU positions of the two Children's Hospitals in my area, experience is required! How do I pursue a career in NICU even if there is not a posting for an open position...can a RN volunteer at a hospital system they are not employed with...specifically in the NICU? Is it okay to contact the Nurse Manager of the NICU and discuss career opportunities... if so is it better to send an old fashion letter or telephone call? How do I gain experience if I've never worked there...will working in Mom/Baby or the Nursery help? My goal is to obtain my NPP and I'm willing to work my way up.

Thanks for any advice I truly appreciate it,

NICU1209

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think your ideas are good ones. Volunteer. Contact the Nurse Managers and ask to speak with them -- telling them that you are seeking career advice even if they don't have jobs available right now. I would probably write a letter first -- then follow up with a phone call.

... and yes ... if you can't get into a NICU right now, I would seek "related" experience in peds, peds ICU, adult ICU, mother/baby, etc.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

Thank you llg for your advice/confirmation.

NICU1209

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I think doing anything age related will help. My friend always wanted peds ICU. After working med/surg for 8 months she landed a peds home care job per diem. Soon after she is finally in peds ICU. Waiting is the hard part.

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I start volunteering in the NICU on September 11, and I am finishing up my last pre-req before applying to nursing school. At the hospital I will be volunteering in I am pretty sure that I will only be answering phones and letting family members into the NICU. But I am super excited to even be doing these things there.... I really want to be a NICU nurse after I graduate and with the waiting list to even get in to school at around 2.5 years I think that volunteering that long might give me an edge.....but who knows!

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I'm right there with you. All the best to everyone in the same shoes! At least we all know how each of the others feels about not being able to land a NICU position yet.

I start volunteering in the NICU on September 11, and I am finishing up my last pre-req before applying to nursing school. At the hospital I will be volunteering in I am pretty sure that I will only be answering phones and letting family members into the NICU. But I am super excited to even be doing these things there.... I really want to be a NICU nurse after I graduate and with the waiting list to even get in to school at around 2.5 years I think that volunteering that long might give me an edge.....but who knows!
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Specializes in NICU.

You might want to consider attending one of the several NICU conferences that are held annually. They can be pricey, but I believe that nothing says, "I'm dedicated" more than spending your own money to further education in your desired field. You get exposure to the lingo of the specialty and some highlights of common issues. You will have something different to put on your resume, and something interesting talk about in an interview.

Here are a few of the ones remaining this year.

The national neonatal conference of the year!

NANN 26th Annual Educational Conference

Embracing the Power of Change:

Advancing Leading Learning

September 19-22, 2010

(Sunday-Wednesday)

Paris Las Vegas Hotel

Conference Brochure

Conference Schedule

Preparing for Conference

2010 AWHONN Convention

September 25-29, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Venetian Las Vegas.

AWHONN 2010 Annual Convention

Neonatal Network 2010 Convention

September 12-15

Savannah, Georgia

http://neonatalnetwork.com/nn3/MBE10Savannah.pdf

Developmental Interventions in Neonatal Care

San Francisco, CA - November 13-16, 2010

Developmental Interventions in Neonatal Care - Contemporary Forums

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Specializes in Retired NICU.

Anything you can do in the maternal chaild area could help you get your foot in the door. If there is a nursery position anywhere that would be ideal; although in my experience, there are pretty much unobtainable anymore, as most everone has gone to couplet care only. If you can get into postpartum, and do couplet care that would be very helpful. Pediatrics would be helpful. Good luck to you, I hope you are able to get into NICU at some time in the not too distant future. :yeah:

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