New Graduate NICU

Nurses Job Hunt

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HI there,

I am having trouble figuring out how to get a position as a new grad in a NICU. I understand this is not the easiest task but I am willing to move anywhere in order to get a NICU position.

I am wondering if there is anyone who has navigated this route and could give me a little bit of information. I am not sure if I should apply before I receive my RN license (I graduate in May 2018) or if I should wait to apply until I pass my NCLEX.

I appreciate any information or words of encouragement!

Thank you!!

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Start browsing the web for new graduate programs and apply based on what each program's requirements are. If anything is unclear, calling the hospital's Human Resources department may help. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in NICU.

I went through an ABSN program that had a Capstone placement during the final semester. I was fortunate to get placed at a Level IV NICU. After passing NCLEX, I started applying for jobs. I applied to 50-100 NICU jobs throughout the US, including Vanderbilt Pediatric New Grad Residency (Nashville) and Vidant Healthcare Level III NICU Residency (Greenville, NC). I ended up with two interviews, one of them was Vidant. The first one was Level IV NICU at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville (formerly Kosair) on a Friday and the Vidant interview on the following Monday. I was offered a position at Norton's on Tuesday while I was still in NC.

While it is possible to get hired as a new grad, many of the hospitals were looking for experienced NICU nurses. We hired almost entirely new grads from our summer externship program or former NICU PCA/ unit secretary. I was the exception to their hiring practice (they needed to fill their one male NICU nurse quota, LOL). We are experiencing a hiring freeze until after our remodeling next year to determine our staffing needs.

Here are a few from indeed.com

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Careers at St. Luke’s

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