Nurse manager or Human resources

I am having the same dilemma. I can't tell if I should contact HR or the nurse manager, or if I should just submit an application. What do you guys think?

I would contact HR first and ask to speak with the nurse recruiter. When you speak with the nurse recruiter tell him/her your interest in NICU and that you have several questions for the nurse manager of the NICU. The recruiter will likely transfer you to the manager or have the manager call you back. It also wouldn't hurt to ask for a meeting with the manager. Even if the NICU isn't hiring right now just tell the recruiter that you have several questions about the NICU and you were hoping to meet face to face with the manager.

Good luck!

I would go through HR. NM are very busy and unless you have someone who can introduce you, I think it comes across as being presumtious. One thing you might consider is arranging a shadow experience. This will get you into the unit which will give you an idea of how you fit there AND, it may make it possible for you to make a connection that will lead to meeting the NM. That is the way I went and it worked out very well for me. I met the nurse educator and we hit it off right away. We talked for 45 min and she suggested I apply. I did apply and she personally introduced me to the NM as well as arranged my interview for me. I interview later in the month. Shadowing is also a great way to see how the nurses work together as well as how the other disciplines interact with the nurses. Best wishes to you!

Thanks for the replies. Shadowing sounds like a great idea!

I don't think that contacting the nurse manager yourself would harm your likliehood of being hired and might actually increase it. Some human resource areas aren't terribly efficient and I actually had an application lost once. Had I not wanted the job and thought to call later to check up on my earlier app. I would have thought the unit just didn't need me. If I already have a small relationship with the floor that I want (ie. know people who can reference me there or have already even casually met the nurse manager) then I always call. I'm very polite, brief and ask if they might have an opening on their floor for my qualifications. Oftentimes, a nurse manager will be very forthcoming and offer advice or other areas to look which HR would leave you hanging on.

If it's a larger facility they will probably ask you to go to human resources to officially fill out an app. but if you've peaked their interest, they will likely ask HR to put a rush on things so that they may interview you. That's happened to me enough times to feel good about the process. Kinda like already having a foot in the door. Just my 2 cents.