NICU Advice for a New Grad

[RescueNinja, BSN, RN]

Hi, I am new to this site and also new to the nursing world! I knew for the longest (around 7 or 8) that I wanted to work in pediatrics. I especially wanted to work with babies. I do not live near a hospital that specializes in peds so when I started applying in December, I just applied to every position that was available in my area. The nearest children's hospital is two hours away from me but it was my dream facility to work at. I had to present my research at a convention, and that is where I met a recruiter at my dream hospital. I spoke to her about how I was extremely interested in working at the facility, and she even went to my poster to look at my research! She asked me if I applied to the current position and I told her yes and that I looked at the website every day to see if there were other positions available. After that encounter, I graduated, and I took the NCLEX -.-.

Two weeks later, a position in the NICU was opened, and I quickly applied as it was a day old. After being rejected three times from other hospitals, I was very depressed because many of my classmates already had jobs before even graduating. Two weeks after applying for the NICU position, I received a call from the hospital!! I was scheduled to have an interview the following week. I felt the most confident in this interview, and it just spoke to me as if this was my home. After driving 2 hours back to my house, I received a call from the recruiter offering me the position!!! I knew that God had a plan for me and that I will be blessed with the job of my dreams!!

The residency program is 18 weeks and I will start July 25th! During this time, I feel like I need to prepare myself. I would greatly appreciate any advice from new grads who have already started working in the NICU or those who have worked in the NICU for years. I apologize for the long message as well.

[NICUNurseEliz]

https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/new-grad-advice-1056667.html https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/help-for-new-1052511.html

https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/new-grad-nicu-1044002.html

https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-neonatal/neonatal-nurse-daily-1017321.html

Those are some previous threads that address some of what you are wondering. I personally recommend Core Curriculum of Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing to the new nurses that I precept. Congratulations on getting your NICU job! An 18 week residency sounds great!

[babyNP., APRN]

congratulations on the job :)

NICUnurseEliz, good set of links. We should really try to get admin to sticky these as this question is asked every week...sometimes every day it feels like, lol.

[RescueNinja, BSN, RN]

Thank you both!