Old/New Grad seeking ICU Internship (HELP)

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Hey guys,

Let's talk,... Seriously !

I graduated may 2013 and have been seeking for a icu job eversince. Matter fact EVERYTHING i did starting from my senior year in nursing school untill now has been geared towards improving my candidacy for icu. Here's a few;

-Clin tech job (Check)

-ACLS, BLS, EKG tech, IV Phlebotomy skills (Check)

My clin tech job was at a transplant floor and i couldn't even get into the icu at that hospital (Long story )

Now i've been working at a skilled LTC nursing home for 3 months and the moment i mentioned that to the last recruiter that called me for an icu internship program at a Major hospital things changed- i.e i did not get the interview.

So my qn is what am i doing wrong? Other recruiters have told me not to just sit wait out for my "dream icu job" but to seek out other nurse job opportunities, hence my current LTC job. At this job i have pts on dialysis(in-house) , trach, g-tubes, picc lines, pacemakers ,wound treatments and ofcourse rehab. That's skilled right ???

So did my current job hurt my chances at interviewing for this icu internship? Is a new grad with no clinical experience (Outside of nursing clin rotations) better off than me? What is it then? WHO IS GETTING ALL THE ICU INTERNSHIP JOBS THEN ???? Apart from those who worked as techs in the ICU ? Tell me something i don't know.

Thanks in advance !!!

PS: I'm RN, BSN btw.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I don't think the fact that you're working in LTC hurt your chances for the ICU, although you may be ineligible for a new grad internship at this point. I'd also think about the fact that you've only been in your current job for three months. Leaving before you've been there a minimum of a year will hurt your chances of getting hired elsewhere.

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Have you thought about looking at agency nursing? Sometimes you can pick up 8-12 hrsa a week. That might help you get acute care while you show your loyalty to your current employer. You could just try applying for general ICU positions or other acute care positionss rather than an internship. You have experience so I wouldn't call you a new grad anymore. Maybe look for positions that are less than fulltime in an ICU rather than agency. I'd make sure that your resume shows the patient population you're carimg for in LTC too.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Maybe you should stop aiming for ICU and just take whatever you can get. I mean getting into a hospital is half the battle. I mean if you want it bad enough a year of Med/surg really isn't that long of time. It does go by fast, altho it may not seem like it.

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I work ICU, was hired into it right out of school, our manager told use if you don't get hired for a new grad position, you must have at least 1yrs experience as a med surg nurse before she will even consider looking at your application. And even though you take care of pts on hemodialysis and trachs, they may be saying get exposure to vents, titratable drips, rapid responses, tele monitoring, things you would not normally see in a LTC facility. Even in med surg you won't be doing titratable drips, or vents but your more likely to see the set up during a rapid response or code and be able to take classes and connect with the clinical educator. I'm not saying quit your current job but maybe do PRN at a hospital. Talk with the clinical educator about cross training into ICU or PCU. It'll be one step closer to ICU.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

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Hey guys thanks for your feedback. But honestly im more confused than ever reading your responses. I'm thinking "To take LTC job off resume or not ??? I dont know... I never thought this would be me almost a year after graduation ...**Sadface***

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I'd keep LTC on your resume and try to pick up a PRN or other part time job at a hospital. You can try to transition that to full time eventually.

Remember that every path is unique and in the end you need to be the one to be happy with where your career takes you. Go get 'em doll!

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I'd keep LTC on your resume and try to pick up a PRN or other part time job at a hospital. You can try to transition that to full time eventually. Remember that every path is unique and in the end you need to be the one to be happy with where your career takes you. Go get 'em doll!

Thank You JeanOfAllTraits !!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I graduated in May of 2013 as well. It took me until Sept to get my job at a clinic. Barely anyone would look at me. And acute care, forget it. So, I took what I could get because student loans were coming due! Here in the PNW you can work for up to 1 year and still be eligible for new grad residencies. I kept applying to them (and other jobs) and while I kept getting residency interviews, for some reason I wasn't hired.

I have applied to 200 positions that said were eligible for new grads....but nothing. I was starting to wonder what was wrong with me (BSN, summa cum laude, 225 hrs in an ICU, worked at a U hospital, ACLS, TNCC).

But....don't give up! I just got accepted into a new grad residency as a critical care float. This is my absolute dream job. When asked what critical care unit I wanted I said I loved it all and it really did not matter. I will be training in the CVCU but also get to work in MICU as well as the Neuro/trauma ICU. I can't be happier!!

I would leave the experience on your resume, afterall you are working as a NURSE. And, even if it is slow, you are ticking away the one year clock to when some hospitals will accept you regardless of the experience.

Good luck on the search, I know how disheartening it can be. Don't give up and keep applying. I looked at it like a numbers game and eventually either I would get a position, or the one year countdown would be over.

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I graduated in May of 2013 as well. It took me until Sept to get my job at a clinic. Barely anyone would look at me. And acute care forget it. So, I took what I could get because student loans were coming due! Here in the PNW you can work for up to 1 year and still be eligible for new grad residencies. I kept applying to them (and other jobs) and while I kept getting residency interviews, for some reason I wasn't hired. I have applied to 200 positions that said were eligible for new grads....but nothing. I was starting to wonder what was wrong with me (BSN, summa cum laude, 225 hrs in an ICU, worked at a U hospital, ACLS, TNCC). But....don't give up! I just got accepted into a new grad residency as a critical care float. This is my absolute dream job. When asked what critical care unit I wanted I said I loved it all and it really did not matter. I will be training in the CVCU but also get to work in MICU as well as the Neuro/trauma ICU. I can't be happier!! I would leave the experience on your resume, afterall you are working as a NURSE. And, even if it is slow, you are ticking away the one year clock to when some hospitals will accept you regardless of the experience. Good luck on the search, I know how disheartening it can be. Don't give up and keep applying. I looked at it like a numbers game and eventually either I would get a position, or the one year countdown would be over.[/quote']

THANK YOU SO MUCH Sand_Dollar ... it's soo easy to just give up and say whatever but i choose NOT to give up !!! Happy for you and can't wait for my turn ... i'm counting 3 months IN now in LTC ..

Good luck in the ICU :-)

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My personal opinion is keep doing the best job that you are doing in your current position, and continue to look for other full-time positions in acute care. If you can't find an ICU position, you could get a job on a tele or cardiac floor that would be a great base for ICU. Or, with the base you have in LTC, what about long-term acute care? This is basically rehab for patients with critical needs. Some patients are on vents, drips and cardiac monitoring, but they are stable vs. unstable. Then, you would definitely be an ICU candidate after some experience. I don't agree with trying to get an agency job anywhere at this point. You should be an experienced acute-care nurse who can hit the ground running at any facility they send you. You seem really determined, and have a good background, and good attitude- you'll wind up in critical care one way or another if you keep moving forward. Just a thought, but have you considered taking a critical care course? This would help you even if you went to a cardiac floor and not ICU right away.

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My personal opinion is keep doing the best job that you are doing in your current position and continue to look for other full-time positions in acute care. If you can't find an ICU position, you could get a job on a tele or cardiac floor that would be a great base for ICU. Or, with the base you have in LTC, what about long-term acute care? This is basically rehab for patients with critical needs. Some patients are on vents, drips and cardiac monitoring, but they are stable vs. unstable. Then, you would definitely be an ICU candidate after some experience. I don't agree with trying to get an agency job anywhere at this point. You should be an experienced acute-care nurse who can hit the ground running at any facility they send you. You seem really determined, and have a good background, and good attitude- you'll wind up in critical care one way or another if you keep moving forward. Just a thought, but have you considered taking a critical care course? This would help you even if you went to a cardiac floor and not ICU right away.[/quote']

Hey thanks so much for your feedback i truelly appreciate it. What is a critical care course? Where can i take it? I might be VERY interested in that cuz im constantly looking for ways to improve my candidacy for ICU. So details please ;-)

I'm also seeking cardiac , tele , medsurg at this point (anything to get me one-step closer to ICU).

God bless.

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