nicu volunteer and future adn rn..... problem?

[ERsn]

Hey everyone!

Well, i went for an interview today for a volunteer position in the NICU, and i think i might have gotten it!

But, i have a concern. I would love to be employed in this nicu, but the head nurse told me that they don't hire adn's and that i would need to get my bsn. My question is, is if i were to enroll in a bsn program would that be enough to consider me, or would i already need to have completed my bsn?

It just makes me sad because i would love to work in the NICU as soon as i can, but they're not interested. Could this also be because of the economy, and once things shape up they would start hiring adn's?

I'm most definitly planning on getting my BSN as soon as possible, but i just would have loved to have this position once i finish my adn program.

Also, if i can't get hired at this particular NICU, would another hospital be more willing to take me on as an adn RN with nicu volunteer experience from another hospital?

Meaning, if i got NICU volunteer experience from hospital 1, would hospital 2 consider me for their NICU?

Thank you!!

[guiltysins]

It depends on the hospital, not specifically the NICU. Some hospitals prefer BSN's regardless of the department. I have seen some hospitals that will consider you if you are at least a year into your BSN program when you apply for the job. I don't really think it has anything to do with the economy, the NICU is a highly specialized area and they don't hire new grads that much so I think having a bachelor's would probably be your best bet. If it's a hospital that prefers BSN's they will take someone who has it over you even with your volunteer experience. also being a volunteer doesn't really relate into experience. So if you can get some kind of nursing internship or preceptorship in the NICU it would better your chances.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The volunteer experience would help with some hospitals, but it is no guarantee. Some NICU's prefer to hire people who have spent some time in NICU's (any NICU in any capacity) because that experience teaches the realities of the NICU world -- that the babies are really critical, some die, some become permanently disabled, and it's not always pretty.

However, volunteer experience is certainly no guarantee. If a hospital has decided to hire only BSN's, then it may not overcome that. But not all hospitals are strict about that. Where I work (not New York), they strongly prefer BSN's, but will consider ADN's who have some sort of relevant experience in their background.

That sort of thing varies from hospital to hospital. If you are really interested in NICU, I would recommend getting whatever relevant experience you can just because it is what interests you and where you hope to be in the long run. But don't assume anything about future employment opportunities. There are no guarantees in life about things like that.