Need help obtaining NICU job

[Foxfour]

My job in nursery (level I) started out as a necessity, but it turned out unexpectly to be the best job I ever had. I love, love, love taking care of the babies. Sometimes, I can't believe that I'm getting paid for something I love to do. As I told a friend, I was hired to take care of the babies, but they take care of me (soul-speaking).

Here is my dilema-I want to advance to level II and then level III in the future, and I want to do it in Washington state because it's a beautiful place to live that also appeals to my soul; however, the pacific northwest is a very expensive place to live, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to live there on a nurse's pay (at least while I'm getting the training I need to be a NICU nurse). I'm willing to stay here in TX until I become a proficient NICU nurse, but there are other problems to add to the mix when I stay here. I live in a predominately spanish-speaking area, and I don't speak spanish, but the big, big problem is we are extremely short-staffed on nurses. So if I go to level II or III, I go orient on my days off, and I get only 1 month per level and on level II there's no charge (level II is on the second floor-way away from level III). I have seen nurses (including myself) cry due to overwhelming stress. It's not uncommon for us to get 10 babies on level I. Add the stress of not being able to relay basic baby care to more than have of the moms because you don't speak spanish. In level II, it's not unheard of to get 5 babies. One nurse who has never worked in nsy had 4 days on level II and then was on her own. Two other nurses were level II nurses at another hospital and didn't get even 1 hour of orientation. Scary stuff but true. I know I need to take my license and run but where to? There is no where else where I can train to be a NICU nurse in my area. I've already tried with no success. Can any of you NICU nurses in Washington point me in the right direction? I know I'm capable of being a good NICU nurse, but I don't know if I can afford to live there. You can PM me if you want. Thank you in advance.

[NurseJR08]

I'm not a NICU nurse, but I know at most places they have residency programs. If you apply for jobs, or even if you are just talking to the hospitals, ask what kind of orientation they have or if you would be put in a residency. There are quite a few hospitals around the Seattle/Tacoma area. You may want to contact the nurse recruiters from the hospitals and see if they are able to help you. I'm not sure if you even have looked into what hospitals around but in Seattle there are....Harborview, Swedish, Northwest (has a level II nursery), Children's, University of Washington Hospital, Valley Medical Center, Overlake. Hope this is kind of helpful!