Neonatal job in the UK - page 2

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Hi everyone, I live in the UK and I'm a 3rd year student nurse and I'm almost qualified, I have applied for a staff nurse position on a neonatal unit, and if I'm lucky enough to get it I hope to... Read More

  1. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    Manchester?? will look for job vacancys there are a couple of local hospitals with small NICU's, what would be the best way to contact them?, I know there are no vacancys advertised at the moment but there may be in the future... there is actually a NICU at Desbury hospital where I'm on placement at the moment, I'm on CCU, do you think they would let me go down as a student?
  2. by FozzyBear18
    Jun 5, '09
    Specialty: NICU ; From: UK ; Joined: Oct '07; Posts: 16; Likes: 1
    don't you have a block towards the end of your course where you can choose where to work. the odd time that we have adult branch they come for a 6-8 week period
  3. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    yeah I'm on my elective ward now! we were told to pick an adult ward, i was told we couldnt have a child ward or neonatal as the child branch needed the placements, but I could possibly go on for a week or so if i asked??
  4. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    Would I Neonatal directly or go to my placement officer at uni??
  5. by FozzyBear18
    Jun 5, '09
    Specialty: NICU ; From: UK ; Joined: Oct '07; Posts: 16; Likes: 1
    go to NICU first and speak to manager. if they say yes (ask for a note on headed paper) then go to placement officer in uni. how long have you got left of placement and course?
  6. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    11 weeks left of course!!! and its all on this placement (CCU) so I could definatly try to go onto NICU for a few weeks
  7. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    I can normally go onto other areas for about a week without consulting the uni placement officer
  8. by FozzyBear18
    Jun 5, '09
    Specialty: NICU ; From: UK ; Joined: Oct '07; Posts: 16; Likes: 1
    approach the manager and enjoy.
  9. by FozzyBear18
    Jun 5, '09
    Specialty: NICU ; From: UK ; Joined: Oct '07; Posts: 16; Likes: 1
    if no luck. give me a shout
  10. by Meg2000
    Jun 5, '09
    From: UK ; Joined: May '09; Posts: 13
    Thanks Fozzybear! will let you know
  11. by MandaAnda
    Jun 6, '09
    Occupation: Neonatal Staff Nurse Specialty: Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained) ; From: UK ; Joined: Apr '08; Posts: 143; Likes: 47
    Just go onto NHS Jobs and look for jobs with nicu, nnu, scbu in the title and description within whatever radius you're willing to travel within and apply away. The recommendation is that all nurses working on a neonatal unit should be child branch trained, however recruitment into neonates is really low at the moment and a lot of units will take adult branch NQs. We hired one about 3 months ago.

    Prepare for a steep learning curve, as the adult branch nurse we took on is having a lot of difficulty in getting her head around it, I think. I really get the feeling she thought it was cuddling babies and not much more.

    To show potential employers that this is the area you want to be in, you've got to prove it. Sign onto the nursing bank at local hospitals and specifically request to work in special care as a HCA. You can then mention that in your person specification and talk about it in interview. It'll show your dedication and that you're serious. They won't want to hire someone who can't be sure that neonates is for them.

    Hope that helps!
  12. by FozzyBear18
    Jun 6, '09
    Specialty: NICU ; From: UK ; Joined: Oct '07; Posts: 16; Likes: 1
    i take it you're quoting the BAPM guideline that states NICU's should be staffed by RN (child branch)? Every nurse who starts their career on a NICU has a very steep learning curve what ever branch they are qualified in. It's the support and education that helps and unfortunately not every NICU provides that
  13. by MandaAnda
    Jun 6, '09
    Occupation: Neonatal Staff Nurse Specialty: Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained) ; From: UK ; Joined: Apr '08; Posts: 143; Likes: 47
    Yes. I do think everyone would have a learning curve, but someone who did not have any placements or theory in paediatrics whatsoever (but particularly neonates) would have it a lot steeper. I still think working as a HCA on a neonatal unit would put the OP in good stead and also look brilliant on an application and in interview.

    I once queried this with my own unit manager, as I had a friend who was a newly qualified adult branch trained nurse. She said she'd take her interest in neonates a lot more seriously if she could back it up with evidence that she'd tried to learn more about the specialty, particularly by trying to get bank HCA shifts in the special care side.

    For what it's worth, only about a quarter of the nurses on my unit are child branch trained, most of which have been hired in the past five years. The majority (and more senior) nurses are adult branch trained or midwives who did a nursing conversion years ago and have gone on to do their neonatal course.

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