Question about working in NICU

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Specializes in Wanna be in NICU.

Hello,

I start Nursing I in September and I heard through the grape vine that hospitals will hire nurse interns once they have started clinicals. I have realized that with 4 children of my own that my passion in nursing is for the NICU. I would love to intern just for 4-6 hours or so once a week in the NICU(as school is so demanding). Do they allow nurse interns in the NICU??? I want to absorb and learn as much as I can about this field. I have a friend who interns in the ER and I have no desire to be there. If this is something one of you has seen, who do I contact at the hosptital about this?

Thank you in advance for any advice or help.

Sincerely,

Denise

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

It all depends on the hospital and facility, you have to contact your local ones and find out for yourself.

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The nurse recruiter or your own college. It is usually called a practicum or preceptorship.

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Specializes in NICU.

Our unit allows nursing students to be aides/techs whatever you want to call it. They take the feeder growers (no kids on CPAP or vent) they do all the care, nurse does the assessment.

Ask you local nurse recruitment office...I wish I knew this in nursing school

Good uck

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Specializes in Wanna be in NICU.

Thanks so much for your responses...I am so excited now. I will talk to the peds Professor at my school. I also ordered on Amazon yesterday the Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care, I thought I'd do some light reading this summer:) If you have any other advice that would be great.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

We had no formal internship positions, but did frequently allow students to shadow nurses. As the nurse manager of the unit, I would be contacted by a student, then go to my supervisor (Director of Maternal-Child Health) for administrative approval. For all her faults, my boss was very supportive of student involvement, so she always OK'd it. And the students always conducted themselves in a professional manner. I enjoyed having them.

We did have senior students request our unit for their "leadership" clinical rotation. They would be with us full-time for a 3-4 week period. That was the closest thing we had to an internship.

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