NICU New Grad Residency/Fellowship Programs?

jennylee321 · Sep 13, 2017

http://academic.son.wisc.edu/studentnet/docs/bsn-nursing-residency-program-resource-guide.pdf

I googled NICU nurse residencies and this ten page document came up listing them all.

outsidegirl · Sep 13, 2017

Thank you for your reply! I too, came across this resource-- but I think this list is of general residency programs- not ones specifically geared towards the NICU!

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2017

I think this is going to require some Google elbow grease on your part, OP. A good new grad residency will have an online presence, you just need to identify your target location and then get started searching.

guest769224 · Sep 13, 2017

Check Intermountain Healthcare positions in the state of Utah. New grads are hired into the Newborn ICU there on a regular basis. They have postings listed now. And several large NICU's.

PixieRN1 · Sep 13, 2017

Now this was 15 years ago, but when I was a new grad, I applied to NICU. The unit only listed having an RN as the requirement, no number of years experience. I got the job as a brand new, baby nurse in a level four NICU. My orientation was three months in intermediate care, then working solo for three months in intermediate, followed by orienting in "intensive" for three additional months before being fully set free.

Now I must say that one of my nursing instructors was a former NNP in that unit, so that probably helped. But I was one of several new grads that started at the same time. But there wasn't a specific "new grad" RN application to fill out. We just picked the unit and applied. In all my years (8 years) of NICU in a few different hospitals, they all hired new grads. I never saw it as a problem for new RNs to get hired in.

Good luck!

outsidegirl · Sep 14, 2017

That is great to know, thank you for your reply! Maybe things may have changed from then till now, but it makes me wonder why it is so much harder to get into adult ICUs than to NICUs? Bothe patient populations are just as critically sick...? Anyways, just a thought!

PixieRN1 · Sep 14, 2017

I wonder if it is because there is no equivalent to "med surg" experience to have prior to NICU? I guess technically there is newborn, but that is nothing at all like NICU because it doesn't involve caring for sick newborns. And now , newborn nurseries are dwindling as hospitals are moving toward requiring infants to room in with mom full time (of course exceptions exist).

I really think that may be the difference. There really is no good place for a new grad to get helpful experience prior to NICU. So, they just bring the new grad right on in and train them from ground zero. In my experience, most new grads ended up doing quite well in NICU; the "failure" rate really wasn't that high.

It's a great specialty. I say that unless the job listing requires a certain number of years experience, go ahead and just apply outside of a new grad program. Worst they can do is say no, right?

sarahkate_pedsRN · Sep 16, 2017

Any Childrens Hospital on that list most likely has a NICU and usually each inpatient unit is part of the Nurse Residency program, so I'd say applying to Childrens Hospitals are a great place to start! The one I work at hires new grads in the NICU multiple times a year!

NurseKait_11, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2017

You can totally get into a new-grad program in the NICU, I did. I had a senior practicum, in Labor and Delivery which may have helped. Do you all have a senior capstone or practicum experience? I would try to get into a NICU or and L and D unit for that and that will give you an edge. It would also help to get a student nurse position in a NICU or a similar maternal/ infant specialty and it'll make it easier to move to where you want to be. Apply to those positions and if you get interviews, really try to stand out as a passionate and enthusiastic candidate!