Preceptorship in NICU - waste of time?

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Here's my situation:

I'm a 26 y/o guy living in South Florida who graduates with my associate's in May (also have a prior bachelor's in communication). I'm an A/B student. After spending a few days in NICU during my peds rotation, I've decided it's really where I want to work. Several of the nurses as well as my instructor encouraged me to pursue this avenue.

That said, will doing my pre-graduation preceptorship in NICU be of any real value towards getting a job in NICU? I'm being told that in this economy, it's take-what-you-can-get beggar's world, and that for the most part NICUs don't hire new grads. My med-surg rotation was less than eventful (i.e. didn't get much experience with technical skills practice) so I wonder if I should just be preceptoring in med-surg instead.

Maybe I would actually be hurting my job search by preceptoring in NICU? (yet I've been told where you do your preceptorship is essentially irrelevant when it comes to the job hunt.)

The thought of a NICU preceptorship excites me (like I said, I'm confident that's what I want to do), and med surg bores me. But at the same time, I want to have a realistic outlook for the future and do what's best with my career in mind.

Sorry if these sound like dumb questions, but my college staff is less than helpful when it comes to questions about basically anything career related. :sniff:

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I did my preceptorship in the NICU, and was offered a job before it was completed. I have worked there now for over a year.

Go for it, if it's where you want to work.

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Specializes in Level II & III NICU, Mother-Baby Unit.

Follow your heart. Lots of nurses over the years have "gotten a foot in the door" doing what you are talking about and it helps the management get to know you. Many managers have "unadvertised" positions in their budgets that they can sometimes use to hire you if they really want you to stay. I've seen it happen more times than I can count. Even if it doesn't work out this time, you will still have the experience and that will always be helpful on your resume. Sure hope it works out for you! I had a passion for the babies and went to the Well Baby Nursery straight away after nursing school. Never looked back and have never had any regrets now that it has been 20 years later... I lie, I have one regret... Now that I am older I wish I knew more about adults since my Mom is elderly now and not in good health, and of course my husband and I are getting older... it would be nice to know more about adults for our own personal care. Still, I wouldn't change my original plan! I love the NICU and you will too!!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

The large NICU at the children's hospital where I work hires new grads regularly -- and is always on the lookout for those who have done preceptorships there. In fact, the only new grads they hire are those that have done some sort of relevant preceptorship, externship, worked as a NICU nursing assistant or something like that.

Our pediatric ICU is the same way. They don't hire as many new grads as the NICU does, but the only new grads the do hire are those with some sort of relevant experience.

My advice is to check directly with the employers in the area where you want to work after graduation. Find out what THEIR hiring practices are. Those are the only ones that matter -- not what my hospital does.

Good luck to you! NICU is a great field -- and a good one for a man as there have been many NICU nursing leaders who have been men and men are generally well-accepted there.

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Thanks for the encouragement. It feels right so I'm going to go for it.

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

Your situation sounds exactly like mine. I conteplated this decision for some time recently as every advisor in school urged me to do the general med-surg route. Like you, I too had very uneventful rotations there & I dreaded going back. So I looked into shadowing other areas & getting the real scoop from nurses myself.

Like the other posters mentioned..I learned that both our NICU's prefer to hire new grads who preceptorship there--it's a 3 month interview & free training program for them. I was worried about picking a specialty too but I decided to follow my heart and take the risk. Greater risks equal greater rewards, right? Plus, having NICU experience on your resume could be a real asset & actually help you to stand out!

I start my preceptorship next Monday...I am very excited & actually looking forward to going to clinical for once. ;P

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in NICU.

Not only will having a preceptorship in NICU help you land a job - it will also make your orientation so much easier!!! I did my last semester clinical in a NICU (equivalent of about 8 weeks full time experience). I didnt land a job immediately in NICU (started out in Mother/Baby) but 6 months later I got a job at a Children's Hospital in a NICU and that experience was sooooo helpful and I think it made me look really good - I was leaps and bounds ahead of other who even had pediatric experience but no NICU!

Good luck!!

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Specializes in NICU.

We definitely look at preceptor students first. Your preceptor will have a good idea of how you work and how well you will fit in the unit (don't underestimate that) by the end of several weeks of working with you. Also, it gives you a chance to try out the job without any permanent commitment. NICU tends to be a love it or hate it place to work and most nurses know pretty quickly which camp they fall in ;).

It will definitely make your orientation easier.

If you did want to look somewhere else for a job, although NICU has a very specific patient population, you will gain a lot of experience doing assessments, blood gases, and working with a medical team--things that look great on a resume.

Good luck and may you love the NICU as much as I do :D.

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Specializes in NICU.

I got hired in January prior to my June graduation for my NICU job :) with a spring NICU preceptorship

Apply EARLY, talk to the hospitals directly (skip the recruiters, they're generally not very useful, IME), show how far you are willing to go for it, enthusiasm, your preceptorship, etc etc. Good luck!

oh-and if you are willing to move, you widen your opportunities HUGELY. Try for a children's hospital or a large delivery hospital if you can.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I did my preceptorship in a NICU but they were only hiring in level 2 when I graduated and I didn't want anything but 3. I ended up moving out of state anyway but I definitely think having done my preceptorship in a NICU helped land my first job.

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Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics.

I got my new job in the NICU because of my preceptorship there before I graduated.

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I did my preceptorship in a level III NICU only to learn that they have not hired in over 6 years. Now I'm having a really hard time finding a job (I'm in Chicago). I sometimes wonder if I made a mistake by choosing NICU since it is so hard to find jobs now. Ultimately, I feel like I made the right choice in the long run, though. I hope... I would definitely call around and try to do your perceptorship at a place where you know you have a shot at getting hired on. This seems to be the best way to get a job right out of nursing school. Good luck! I hope you have a better experience than me as far as getting hired in a NICU as a new grad. Also, they may like the fact that you are male. Nursing in general tends to be lacking in males, but the NICU in particular tends to attract mostly women. The unit where I did my rotation only had one guy. So perhaps that will play in your favor.

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