Sanforkl

Hi all, I live in NC and just graduated nursing school in Dec. I have been offered an ER position but quite honestly, after having my practicum there, I am feeling that the environment may be too stressful and may not be a good fit for me. I am thinking about looking for a position in a Dr.'s office and was wondering how the pay is and if that is a good place to start out as a new grad? I am concerned that if I ever wanted to leave the Dr.'s office later on down the road and go back to a hospital setting, say a labor and delivery unit, I will not be a good candiate since I have not been able to practice my skills as much in a Dr.'s office. I would also consider an Urgent Care. Can some of you with experience on this topic chime in and let me know if this is a good move or if I should stick it out in the ER for 6 mos and then look for a job change? Thanks!

I am so glad that I stumbled upon this website thanks to a friend's referral and I am so glad to have stumbled upon this forum of NICU nurses. I am in my very first semester of nursing and I have been praying and hoping for an answer as to what kind of nurse I am supposed to be. The NICU came along last year just as I was starting out doing pre-reqs to try to get into nursing school. A friend had a baby that went into the NICU right when school started. I went to visit. I fell in love with NICU but was too afraid especially after my friend's baby passed away due to heart complications. Then the very same friend, exactly one year later had another baby who ended up in the same NICU on the same wing, two beds down from where her last baby's bed was. I went to visit again. I fell in love again (and this time I am happy to report that this baby is going home tomorrow!!) To make a long story short, many circumstances have led me to the point where today I made the decision that the only place I want to be a nurse is the NICU. I am beyond excited and beyond hopeful. It gives new meaning to school to have a goal in mind for when I graduate. It is highly motivating to know that this is what you feel you are meant to do. And it is also very encouraging to read everyone's post on here about the loves of the NICU. Everything that you all have said seems to make me feel in my heart, beyond a shadow of doubt that this will be my future. Thank you all for your wonderful words. :)

Hi Brian, I am also in NC and I was at CMC hospital the other day. The RN working in NICU also said that they will accept new grads if there is room. It is encouraging to know. I also see what you mean about the steep learning curve. According to the nurse I talked to in the NICU, she said you have to learn everything once you get in the NICU. School teaches you the basics of nursing but the NICU is a different world for the most part. Despite the learning curve, this job is the only one I can imagine myself doing. I am hopeful that if it is meant to be, it will be! Thanks for the info.!

Hi Stephen, Thanks so much for your reply. I did a quick job search on using this website and saw only on NICU opening in New York! Yikes! Not very many positions available! But I can understand why. It seems like an excellent job that people don't want to give up. Thanks for the info!! Kendra

Hey everyone, I am new here and I am in my very first semester of nursing school. Last year, a close friend had a baby in NICU (sadly, the baby passed away after about a week due to heart complications) and then the same friend just had another baby 2 weeks ago and this baby ended up in the same NICU on the same wing but this one, I am so happy to say is healthy and going home this week!! Anyways, last year, when visiting the NICU to see the first baby, I fell in love. Then last night, when I went back to visit the second baby I got to talk to a nurse who has 8 yrs. experience as a NICU nurse. She loves it and won't do anything else. So, I have questions now as I am sure this is the direction I will be going. I feel called to this area. This is the only kind of nursing I want to do. 1. Is it hard to get a job as NICU nurse? 2. What is starting salary for a newbie right out of school and what is the average salary for someone with yrs. experience in NICU (a girl from my school said 100,000 but that just seems to high for a nurse compared to other areas of nursing)? 3. Can you get a job in NICU with only a 2 yr. degree and no experience or do you have to have your BSN and experience on another unit? 4. What is the hardest thing about your job (besides the obvious of a baby passing away)? And thank you to NoCrumping...your post was very encouraging for someone thinking about going into this area of nursing!!