New Grad in the NICU at Wellstar Kennestone?

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I am wondering if anyone has gotten a position in Kennestone's NICU as a new grad? or any Wellstar facility for that matter? the NICU is where my heart is and I am set on ending up there as a new grad. I work at Kennestone now as a nurse extern in a med/surg unit but I've been told they don't really allow externs or techs in the NICU so I am not sure how to get my foot in the door or get some experience in the NICU prior to graduating. I've also been told that Kennestone doesn't really take new grads in the NICU. I'd love some feedback or some advice! pretty much all of the other large hospitals in Atlanta allow new grads in the NICU so I am not sure why Kennestone may not.

Thanks!!

Also, anyone know any hospitals in Atlanta that take new grad nurses in the NICU with no NICU experience?? ?

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Specializes in NICU.

Most children's hospitals offer residencies for new graduates in the NICU. I would look into your local children's hospital.

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The NICU at Northside Hospital in Atlanta has both a Nurse Extern program and a New to NICU RN Residency program. Go to the Northside Hospital Website/Careers and search Extern or Residency. The NICU at Northside is referred to as Special Care Nursery. The Extern program is open to students entering their Senior year. Good Luck.

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@BENICU Thanks so much for your response! I've applied to Northside's extern program for the NICU, however the application is now "closed" and I haven't heard anything. I've also applied to several (and I mean a lot haha) positions at all 3 Northside locations for extern and PCT positions in mother/baby, L&D and even ED just to get my foot in the door. Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about any externships yet. I've also applied to almost all the hospitals I can think of for their extern program or PCT positions in mother/baby, L&D, and NICU including Gwinnett Medical, Piedmont, Emory, Grady, Dekalb Medical, CHOA (I've submitted a ton of apps here too and haven't heard anything), even mother/baby positions at Kennestone, and I'm sure there's more I'm missing. I've had my resume looked over by peers of mine who were hiring managers in their previous careers so I don't think that is the problem. My next step is to get shadowing experience in the NICU to put on my resume to show that I'm really interested in NICU, as well as hopefully get practicum/preceptorship in a NICU. I know most of these hospitals prefer internal applicants when it comes to New Grad positions, especially for spots as competitive as NICU, so I am trying to get my foot in the door for any hospital system that allows New Grads in the NICU. Do you know if Northside or other hospitals hire New Grads that are external applicants in those competitive positions? Do you have any other advice that could make me a stronger applicant when it comes residency time? I don't graduate until May 2020 so I have some time but knowing how competitive the position I want is, I am trying to be proactive so that way I can present myself as the best applicant possible!

Side note: sorry this was so long!! Thanks for your help!

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On 3/12/2019 at 11:10 PM, babyNP. said:

Most children's hospitals offer residencies for new graduates in the NICU. I would look into your local children's hospital.

Thanks for the advice! I have applied to several positions at my local Children's hospital, however it is extremely difficult to get hired there unless you are already an internal applicant or have connections. Fingers crossed though ?

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Although I don’t live in your area. What worked for me was volunteering in the NICU. I was not able to get a tech job, so I wasn’t an internal applicant, but I did keep in touch with people in the NICU from my volunteering days and landed the job. It’s all about who you know my friend. Also, go to career fairs and talk up the nurse recruiter because that’s the person (at least at my hospital) that scheduled the interviews. Right now you are just a nameless face in a pile of resumes, but if you can somehow meet these people through volunteering or career fairs and they like you, then they will pull your resume from the dusty pile when you tell them that you are interested in NICU and that you’ve already applied.

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On 3/14/2019 at 10:40 PM, wannabenicunurse1 said:

Thanks for the advice! I have applied to several positions at my local Children's hospital, however it is extremely difficult to get hired there unless you are already an internal applicant or have connections. Fingers crossed though ?

On 3/13/2019 at 11:02 AM, BENICU said:

The NICU at Northside Hospital in Atlanta has both a Nurse Extern program and a New to NICU RN Residency program. Go to the Northside Hospital Website/Careers and search Extern or Residency. The NICU at Northside is referred to as Special Care Nursery. The Extern program is open to students entering their Senior year. Good Luck.

Request to do your practicing in the NICU. What school?

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I’m at nurse extern at Wellstar Cobb. I’m allowed to float to the NICU. I would reach out to the manager and express interest in that unit. They should let you float there since you are a nurse extern.

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hey everyone I know this is kind of random but I ended up getting a job as a PCT in a NICU in town!!

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Specializes in NICU.

That will help you or hurt you when applying for a nursing position in the unit. You will be a familiar person in the NICU. Keep in mind that your job is a daily interview. How competent you do your PCT job will determine if they want you as a nurse. If you do your job well without issues or drama, then Management has a very good idea how you would be as a nurse in the unit. If you call in a lot, late to work, lazy, incompetent, then you will not be offered a job after graduation.

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did anyone had to jobshadow for their interview

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