Neonatal ICU

[jennyb_APC]

I am wanting to start nursing school and go into this area. I was wondering how hard it is to get in. Is there a shortage in this area or will have to do something else for a few years and then get into it.

[lisabeth]

I too think I would like to work in this area. Try volunteering or something in that area.

[Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN]

I find myself draw to that as well. I have been helping my cousing take care of her sick daughter since birth. She is supposed to have round the clock care but sometimes there are no nurses to cover some shifts so I have learned her Trach care and feeding, etc. It has peaked my interest in nicu nursing but until I get my foot in the door I'm keeping other options open. It should be interesting to discover if that will be my niche or if I'll end up into something else. I don't know how the demand is though, it'll be interesting to see what others have to say.

[lisabeth]

It is interesting how taking care of someone can draw your interests to a certain career. It was taking care of my mom while she was dying of cancer that drew me into nursing. Now it is something I think about almost every minute of the day. I want to learn everything I can in order to do my job to the very best of my ability.

I find myself draw to that as well. I have been helping my cousing take care of her sick daughter since birth. She is supposed to have round the clock care but sometimes there are no nurses to cover some shifts so I have learned her Trach care and feeding, etc. It has peaked my interest in nicu nursing but until I get my foot in the door I'm keeping other options open. It should be interesting to discover if that will be my niche or if I'll end up into something else. I don't know how the demand is though, it'll be interesting to see what others have to say.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Thread moved to NICU Forum for more responses.

On my unit, we do hire new grads through an internship program, but it is fairly competitive. In my intern class I believe there were 14 who got interviews and there were 4 slots.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I think it depends on what is going on with the staffing status in your chosen unit at the time you graduate. I was fortunate enough to get hired into a NICU straight out of nursing school. I haven't started yet, I still have to pass NCLEX.

I did my senior practicum in the NICU. If I hadn't done it there I know I wouldn't have the job I do. They don't have an internship program and the only way a new grad can get hired there is if they did their senior practicum there or worked there as a nurses aide.