NICU Level III vs. Level IV for a new grad nurse

[Paigeanna]

Hello, 

I am the nursing student who applied for only NICU jobs right before graduation. If you guys have any opinion or idea, please... please share that for me. 

 

As of now, I applied for two residency program but I want to make sure where to go as soon as possible for interview schedule for both. 

 

1. Level IV children's hospital residency program: it has 26 beds and the acuity is higher than the other one. It does not contain level III, and only encompass level IV babies. 

Pros: experience of various cases, learning more hands-on skill other than feeding, the name value of the hospital. (#1 (Best and biggest) hospital in my state).

Cons: My anxiety from high acuity patients. 

 

2. Level III hospital: This hospital has a partnership with the number one (Level IV) hospital. It has 42 beds and not that big hospital but I have nice impression with my clinical experience. 

Pros: I am thinking that even if I start my career at number 1 hospital, I may change my position to this hospital after I have some experience at number 1. 

Cons: I don't know the acuity of the level III hospital. But because this hospital encompass level II and III, so as a new grad, I would not see many critical case in there. (it is my thought but I would like to hear your opinion about level III acuity).

 

Please give me your advice to choose the proper position. Thank you!! 

 

I don't know which option would be perfect for a new grad nurse. The 

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I started as a new grad at a 203 bed Level IV NICU. The only difference between a Lvl III and Lvl IV is surgical patients. My NICU almost exclusively hires new grads, so everyone goes through knowing nothing to be a competent Lvl IV NICU nurse. Level IV is where the interesting patients are. If I were to work at our Level III across town, I would get bored with having only non-surgical patients.

Getting 2-3 yrs experience in a Level IV makes you a little more marketable to other Lvl IIIs and IVs than having exclusively LVL III experience.