Passionate new grad for the NICU! How do I get there!?

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · May 10, 2012

I was offered a job in the NICU I am currently in after three months in adult med/onc (I started in January, so ended up completing 6 months total before switching jobs). I had experience as a tech in newborn nursery during nursing school and an externship in our sister NICU as well, however. I didn't enjoy where I worked right after graduation but the experience with central lines and carrying a patient load of anywhere from six to ten made me much more confident than I would have been had I came to the NICU as a new grad.

nohika · May 10, 2012

I think peds onc would probably be relatively closer - you at least get experience with children of types. I've heard of several wanna-be NICU nurses having issues transferring over after getting used to adult patients.

celyseRNBSN · May 10, 2012

I think peds oncology would be the better choice, too. Things don't always happen on the timeline we want them to, unfortunately, but if you know you're passionate about NICU, don't give up on it :) Get some experience, learn your time management and prioritization skills, and then try to transfer to the NICU in a year or so.

aprincess · May 16, 2012

I'm not in a nursing program yet..but my desires are much like yours TxSunflower. I've done some volunteer work at my local hospital in the family-center nursery and ask various nurses and staff how do you get into NICU...I was advised to look into Nurse Residency programs that will train you for NICU work...those are my plans once I complete nursing school. Good Luck on your career...really hope you get the field your most passionate about.

TxSunflower · May 17, 2012

Thats exactly what I have been trying to do. Thank you for the advice, your right the residency programs is the best option. However it is hard to to get your foot in the door to even get an interview for the residency programs being in Houston, tx because the medical center is extremely competitive and their are thousands of people who apply for more often than not one or two positions. I graduated with Honors, did volunteer work throughout nursing school with women, infant, and children populations and still didn't picked for interviews. Therefore i learned the most important lesson that I hope you will take to heart if your passion is truly NICU.

Your grades don't matter when it comes to getting a job. Don't get me wrong do good in school and study for your own benefit especially if you want a masters later but to get a job or even an interview you need connections and good ones for that matter! The biggest mistake i made during nursing school was not being good at networking.

Therefore, i hope you follow my advice and every time you have clinical in a NICU or even a Hospital that has a NICU try your hardest to go meet the Nurse manager in the area you want and get their contact information! This will help a 100% more than having a good GPA.

Dalla · May 24, 2012

Couldn't agree more about your statement concerning grades. A good GPA is necessary for grad school, but won't help with getting a job. You need friends for that. Any connection works wonders.