New Grad

There are several threads asking the same question about new grads in the NICU. Try typing "new grad NICU" in the search bar in the upper left of the page.

Depending on a several factors, it may be extremely difficult to not difficult at all to get a NICU job after graduation.

What is the nursing job market in your area? If it is difficult for new grads to find a job regardless of the specialty, then a NICU job will be difficult (especially with a ASN).

How many NICUs are there in your area and the size? The smaller NICUs don't have the resources to train a new grad and prefer nurses with experience. Larger NICUs have residency programs or long orientations with classroom and preceptor time (mine was 12 weeks).

What kind of specialized experience do you have on your resume? We hire many new grads. Most have NICU experience as either a PCA in a NICU or had a summer externship. All of our summer externs have been offered jobs when they graduate next May. My nursing program included a Capstone Preceptorship in my final semester. It was a 135 clinical hour preceptorship with a nurse. I chose the NICU at a children's hospital. That helped my get a job in another Level IV NICU as a new grad.

Are you willing to relocate? There are several New Grad Residencies available (not sure if BSN is required), but may not be located near Phoenix.

Yes I am willing to relocate in western part of the US. We have no control over our perceptorship and I didn't get placed in the NICU. We have 4 large NICUs but Phoenix is super competitive and most hospitals now want a BSN or at least enrolled. Which I am enrolled. I guess I'm just reaching out to network and if anyone has any advice on how to get noticed by hiring managers. My background is as a medical assistant. The only experience I have had in the NICU is when I did a rotation at St.Joesph and PCH.

Which Hospital do you work at?

Yes I am willing to relocate in western part of the US.

I know of some Newborn ICU's in the state of Utah that readily take new grad ADN nurses into the unit. If you are interested in details PM me.