zanmilasante

I know of a FNP that graduated 2 years ago, continued working as a staff RN until she found a position at a clinic just late last year. She told me that her friends who are NNPs are having an even harder time finding jobs. You're not alone, just keep applying, don't give up!

Demand - there are many aspiring nurses due to the myth of a "nursing shortage", but state funded schools can offer only limited acceptances due to funding. It's VERY competitive (at least in california) to get into a state school. For-profit, you pay for convenience.

It's expensive. If you want to go here, at least take the non-nursing pre reqs at a community college and then transfer.

The NICU is quite the opposite of a high-turnover job. People love it and never leave. Hopefully they accept you as part of the family soon!!

I agree with everyone here. The NICU can be an extremely high stress environment, and you will not last if you don't have the passion for it.

Our unit uses travel nurses from time to time! (Well known hospital in Los Angeles) They aren't treated any differently - our staff is inviting and friendly to all.

Exactly why I love NICU'

Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Merenstein & Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care

Do some studying, so you can impress in your interview! Books for starters - Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, and Metenstein & Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care. These two are like the bible for new NICU nurses.

The level 3 NICU I am at seems always understaffed - so there is definitely a need for more NICU nurses. However, the department is looking for experienced nurses, not new grads. It's probably easier to start out in a lower acuity NICU. Also, if you're goal is just to work wit neonates in the NICU, you can be a RT in the NICU. There are always RTs in our department giving the premies breathing treatments.

I did an internship called "care extenders" in which you rotate through 4 departments over a year. My last assignment was NICU and i immediately fell in love with the premies fighting so hard to survive.

Have you tried volunteering in the NICU? I've volunteered in both level 2 and level 3 NICU's and the commitment is usually only a minimum of 4 hours a week. This way you can get contacts. Also, I've seen many PICU and pediatric floats in our NICU when we are understaffed -- another way into the department.

In our unit (level 3 NICU) all staff glove up for every patient. The staff also take off their watches, rings etc any item that can harbor bacteria. Taking extra precaution is good news.

Great idea. Nothing replaces real hospital visits, but it sounds like a great additional resource.

Congrats! My goal is to go straight into a level 3 NICU upon graduation too.