Should I be Worried about the all the openings?

[TeeKay12]

Right now, I'm a Med/surg nurse. It's what was available when I graduated and I've loved it. However, I'm ready for a change (it's been almost 3 years - and that's long enough on med/surg).

I'd really love to go to a NICU and one of the larger hospitals in the area is hiring. I've applied and I'm waiting for a call. My question is: should I be worried there are so many openings posted on the hospital's website? I did my management capstone in L/D at the same hospital and spend a couple of weeks in the NICU. It's approximately 50 beds, located on 2 floors. There are currently no fewer than 15 postings for RN hirings. No experience needed in NICU. All other hospitals require NICU experience.

IF I'm called for an interview, should I be worried there are so many openings? Or is this something fairly common in the NICU world? I know my med/surg floor is currently hemorrhaging RNs and PCTs.

[adpiRN]

I'm currently in the same position! I have an interview tomorrow and I know the unit currently has a few full-time, part-time, and PRN positions open, some day shift, and none say NICU experience required.

Makes me a little cautious, but it still has a good reputation and I'm going to go on the interview with an open mind.

I may ask them about the openings on my interview and see what answer they give for why there are so many.

If they just had a wave of nurses retire or are expanding that will ease my mind.

Will also ask how many experienced vs new nurses they have work each shift and about orientation. (I'm applying for the PRN position)

Good luck!

[llg, PhD, RN]

It is common in the NICU world ... but it is still important for you to assess why it is happening in this particular unit at this time. Here are some possible explanations off the top of my head.

1. If the unit is very large and has a large nursing staff, even a normal rate of turnover will yield a relatively large number of new hires needed on a regular basis. (A 20% turnover rate for a unit with only 30 staff members results in needing to hire only 6 nurses per year. But a 20% turnover rate for a unit with a staff of 150 results in the need for 30 new nurses per year.)

2. NICU's can be very stressful places to work due to the severity of the illnesses seen there, moral dilemmas, high death rate, high rate of poor outcomes, patient family issues, etc. A lot of people who think they are going to like it (because they like babies) don't like working with critically ill ones as much as they thought they would. So they leave after only a few months or a year or two.

3. NICU nurses may have been biding their time during the recent recession -- staying in the same job, waiting for other opportunities to open up. Some may have gone back to school to prepare for making a move when the job market opened up. Within the last year, there has been a general easing of the economy and people are starting to hire again. As jobs are opening up, experienced nurses are getting the first crack at them -- and I am seeing several nurses at my hospital moving on at this time.

4. A lot of us now in our late 50's and early 60's went into NICU's when they were just becoming the "big thing" back in the 70's and early 80's. We are now approaching retirement age. With the easing economy, many of us are switching to part time employment or moving on. That creates openings.

5. Bad management. Enough said.

I'm sure there are other possible explanations. These are just a few off the top of my head. Find out why there are so many vacancies before you commit to anything.