NICU new grad question

RescueNinjaKy · Jun 18, 2016

I think the common attitude is that the critical care setting, any whether micu, nicu, ,cicu is tough for a new grad and hard to get in as a new grad. So it could be they think you should get a foundation on med surg first (I'm not saying this is necessary but could maybe make it easier) but they're coming off as condescending.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 18, 2016

Most NICUs have a low turnover so jobs are hard to come by. And it really isn't just "working" with babies like in the nursery. Consider a shadow in a NICU if you have never been in one.

Many do hire new grads and many have a residency program, but spots are limited. For every open position we have, we have at least 80-100 applicants. We may only have 2-3 open positions per year. Those are the odds. Med-surg is not necessary but work on postpartum/well baby nursery is a good way to gain experience to get a foot in the door.

apillarofsalt · Jun 18, 2016

Difficult, not impossible. My first job as a new grad was a pediatric ER, and a friend from my program got into a obstetrics nurse residency that rotated through all the OB units until she got placed with L&D.

That said, we were the top two students from our class, and we both came with excellent recommendations and a lot of extracurricular shadowing. I campaigned to get my transitions time at the peds hospital for months ahead of time, and got it because I took initiative to ask. My gpa was high and that impressed the unit director (people say it won't, but it can). I set up my own shadowing experiences and internships to make myself marketable and competitive. I also went to job fairs at the place I wanted to work and asked what it would take to get a job there, and then did those things before applying.

It's not impossible, but it will definitely not be as simple as just applying. You have to work hard to show an interest and leverage your resources.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 18, 2016

Higher level and larger NICUs hire new grads. We hire almost exclusively from graduates that did an externship at our NICU or had a Capstone experience at a NICU like I did. Most large NICUs have a long orientation with classroom and preceptor time.

Missie Hannie · Jun 19, 2016

I can't speak for everyone else, but I got hired in a NICU residency as my first job after graduation, as did many in my residency cohort. Many nurses told me that I would most likely have to "do my time" on another unit first, just to get my foot in the door, but there were some who told me that if I had a dream, go for it. As others have already mentioned, your best bet is a residency, which should supply a good preceptorship and classroom time. Is getting a position in a NICU easy? Not a bit. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

kp1987 · Jun 19, 2016

I got hired in a level 3 NICU as a new grad and it's been a great experience but as other people have posted its a critical care area and that defiantly makes it a bit challenging straight out of school. But I think if it's what you want to do then you should. Take your NRP, do some shadow shifts and do any extra education you need to do before you start. Good luck

KJCnango, ADN · Jun 19, 2016

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It really is my dream. When I chose, at 33 with 3 kids of my own and a mortgage and bills and knowing the work ahead of me, to change careers and go to nursing school, this is what I saw myself doing. Thank you for the vote of confidence. Ive veen looking up residency programs, not that I fully understand them yet, but most of them are saying that they're only for BSNs. I'll only have my 2-year when I'm done. Is this common in any of your experience?

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 20, 2016

Most places are hiring BSN only or preferred. All our big hospitals here that have NICUs are hiring BSN only.

Missie Hannie · Jun 20, 2016

There are a few hospitals who will hire new grads with only an associates degree for residencies, but generally having a BSN is preferred; if it came down to a choice between an ADN and a BSN, they will almost always take the nurse with the BSN. But please don't get discouraged. Myself and many of my residency cohort do not yet have ours bachelors, and yet we were hired, several of us in a NICU, too. It may take time, but you will either find a hospital willing to hire a new grad without a BSN, or you might have to work somewhere else for a short time while you earn your BSN. Either way, if you are determined to work in a NICU, it'll work out some day.

BSN16 · Jun 20, 2016

I'm not trying to sound harsh but almost EVERYONE who originally started off in my nursing class wanted to be a L&D or NICU nurse, everyone!!! and ironically out of the 30 of us only 1 went to the NICU, and 1 went to L&D. Turns out, after clinical many of them found other loves in different specialties. One found herself absolutely LOVING oncology! I would say to just wait and see how school goes for you.

Also i understand you love kids and want to help them get better, but sometimes they don't. Have you considered how this will effect you?

Hope everything works out for you!

KJCnango, ADN · Jun 20, 2016

My biggest challenge right now is that I'm running out of student loan money. There is a lifetime max of undergraduate loans of 57K. I have a Bachelors that utilized all but 10K of that. A Bachelors that was a waste of time and money! So while I should have gone straight to a BSN program, I cant afford it at almost 26K. I dont have enough loans left to cover it. So my only option is getting my 2 year and then hoping I can get tuition reimbursement for my BSN through employer. It seems so silly that I'm going backwards, so to speak, in degrees, but it's what I have to do. I certainly cant pay out of pocket, so loans are my only option.