Old/New Grad seeking ICU Internship (HELP)

[thisdoll]

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.

[sugarmagnolia3]

Hey thisdoll...I just checked ECCO (Essentials for Critical Care Orientation) by AACN, but it is not unfortunately available for individual purchase=/ It looks however, like AACN has an EKG course and critical care pharmacology course which you could always put on your resume. I'm not sure if there are any other courses out there, other than ones you would take for a certification in critical care which you must already be a critical care nurse for, for so many hours. Keep learning everything you can, and keep applying to acute care- you're going to make it:)

[NPOaftermidnight, MSN, RN, NP]

I would take the same amount of effort and determination you have been putting into an ICU position and find yourself a med/surg position. This would be much more valuable than any certification/class.

Sorry if you've already done this... from what you said it just seemed like you put a bunch of effort into an ICU position and ended up in LTC when that didn't work out. It's going to be a bit more difficult for you coming from LTC since you are still basically going to be like a new grad in the hospital setting. Don't let this discourage you at all though - just keep reaching out and working towards your goal and you WILL get there. If you have any connections in the hospital at all, USE THEM! It really helps to know people, as in any profession. good luck!