New Grad Trying for NICU

Specialties NICU

Published

Hello everyone! I'm a new grad (May 2013) with my BSN and have been searching for my first RN position for quite some time now. While I know I can't be too picky with the way the economy is right now, my main focus is the NICU. I was a patient in the NICU and heard my parents tell me all kinds of stories about the nurses, and I want to be able to give back the same support to others. The NICU is the reason I went to nursing school. I'm very thankful to have gotten my senior practicum in a NICU. I'm willing to move ANYWHERE to get a job.

I've filled out hundreds of applications (mixture of new grad and experienced positions) from Washington state to Maine, and everywhere in between. I've had one interview in which they ended up going with someone who is experienced. Other than that, I've either heard nothing at all or have gotten rejection emails. I've tried emailing and calling a few managers, etc in an attempt to be proactive, and have gotten the same results.

Is there anything you all can think of that would help increase my chances of standing out? Would things like NRP and becoming a Neonatal Nurses Association member be somewhere to start? Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!!

Job yet? I work in the NICU here in Anchorage, AK it's the only level 3 NICU in the entire state. I started as a new grad, we currently have 2 NICU intern positions posted. It's like a residency program for new grads in the NICU!

Thanks for the new replies everyone. I've had a number of interviews since my original post, but no job offers. I have no idea what to do, no one seems willing to give me a chance. I have one interview I haven't heard back about yet, but that's really the only thing giving me any hope anymore.

tazzie1026, someone else did mention Albany Med Center to me, and I'm looking at applying there again.

ToughingItOut, I'll definitely send you a PM. I'm more than willing to settle for any location in order to get NICU. It's pretty important to me to start out there.

muircv, which hospital do you work at in Anchorage? You can send me a PM if you don't want to post it here. The only 2 I know about are the Providence hospital and Alaska Regional Hospital...I looked, but couldn't find any NICU intern positions posted at either place. Maybe they are only open to internal employees? Or I could have overlooked it. I'd definitely apply if I could find it!

Specializes in NICU.

Hey there,

I saw that you tried to pm me but my inbox was full. I cleared it out so please try again! Sorry for the inconvenience. :)

No worries!! I tried again, please let me know if it didn't work.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

If you're truly willing to move anywhere, you might look into the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (McAllen, specifically). The NICUs own here will hire new grads. It's the armpit of the country, but it might get you into the NICU. I, personally, cannot wait to leave here, but your experience may differ from mine. It's been a long 9 years living here, but at least I'll leave with 5 years of Level 3 experience.

The hospitals are horrible, understaffed, little or no modern equipment, mostly foreign-trained nurses, pathetic management, etc etc etc. It's right on the border with a 3rd world country. There's Mexican drug cartel violence and gang violence. But, it's only around an hour from South Padre Island!

I am willing to go just about anywhere, but I'm not so sure how well I would do in McAllen. The violence being the main concern (I would be moving alone), and the fact that I don't speak any Spanish being the other. I have tried applying to places in El Paso as I've heard it's a little better in terms of having less violence, but haven't gotten any responses so far. I'll have to really think about whether or not the personal safety risk is worth it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with it, it sounds like it's been really tough, but maybe worth it for the experience.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

You'd get experience with the sickest of neonates. I don't speak Spanish, either, but it hasn't prevented me from doing the job. I can't really recommend the place, but if you're desperate, it might be an option...especially with how short we are for staff in NICU city-wide.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Are you working now? If not, that may play Ito not getting call backs. Good luck!

Boratz, RN, I'll definitely keep that area in mind, but will admit I feel really unsure about it. Do they have a lot of interpreters that help with the Spanish, or do a lot of the other nurses speak it and help out?

NicuGal, no I'm not working now. I've tried getting secretary, tech, etc jobs at hospitals, but they all say I'm overqualified and won't hire me. Volunteer positions seem to all have 4-6 month waiting lists in my area. Just as I'm thinking about getting a non-nursing job, a nurse interview comes up and I put the other job on hold. It's hard to know when the timing is right to find a non-nursing job...I don't want to put them in the position of hiring/training me to only have me possibly work there for a few weeks. I'm feeling really conflicted with it all! Thanks for the good luck wishes!

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Honestly, take anything you can get in the nursing realm to get work experience. Even if it means taking a job on a floor. The longer you go without a job of some sort the worse it looks. Volunteer work won't cut it either. I am in our hiring and retention committee and I can't tell you how many apps get tossed, especially when we are told that they didn't take any position since they were waiting for their ideal job. A person with a year of work experience will almost always win over someone who has say months without a job. Get in the door if a hospital that has a NICU and you can later transfer internally.

Best of luck!

Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

Have you looked into non hospital based nursing jobs? At a Dr's office or LTC? I am in CO right now, and it is extremely difficult for new grads to get hospital jobs here. I am only a pre-nursing student now, and hopefully it will be different in a few years, but I am going into this with my eyes wide open. NICU is my dream, but I don't expect to get it right away. My neighbor finished nursing school over 3 years ago. He went in wanting to do only ER. But he first got a job at a nursing home, then urgent care, before finally getting a spot in the ER. He never stopped looking or applying, but he made sure to take whatever he could, gain experience, and move up the ladder so to speak. He was persistent, talking to HR and nurse managers. Always making sure they saw and heard him. He made lots of contacts networking like crazy. He gives me hope that if you are skilled and persistent, you will get that dream job. Good luck!

Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.
Albany Medical Center in NY takes new grads

This is a blast from the past. I grew up in NY, and my father worked at Albany Med (though not as a nurse). But I met many nurses that worked there.

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