NICU Capstone to Future Career Advice

[millerdj]

Hi everyone! I am currently in my last semester of nursing school and completing my capstone clinical. I was assigned to NICU in an awesome hospital!! Very happy. I definitely want to work in OB or NICU upon graduation in the spring. I met my preceptor today and she told me how the manager had offer a job to one of her previous students a few months ago and she did not accept the position. This is a hospital and unit I would love to work out. Because of strange circumstances with a different preceptor, another student was assigned to my preceptor as well. I am not sure if this other student would be interested in a job here if offered, but I want to try to do everything I can to receive the job offer if the manager decides to offer one to one of us. I know I should ask plenty of questions, take initiative to seek out learning opportunities, and offer to help out other nurses if I'm not busy.

Is there anything else a NICU nurse could recommend I could do to make myself marketable to the unit? I plan to look into taking a pediatric advanced life support class this semester as well.

Obviously I understand I may not receive an offer or they may not be hiring in the next few months, but I want to do whatever I can to make a good impression on this unit. Any advice would be helpful and appreciated!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I know I should ask plenty of questions, take initiative to seek out learning opportunities, and offer to help out other nurses if I'm not busy.

Is there anything else a NICU nurse could recommend I could do to make myself marketable to the unit? I plan to look into taking a pediatric advanced life support class this semester as well.

Be eager to learn and engaged in your learning experience. Let the manager know your interest in working there when you reach the end of your clinical.

PALS is not used in the NICU. We are trained in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).