Switching to neonatal nursing

[bmacadams]

I have been working with geriatric patients since graduating with my ADN. I now have my BSN and would very much like to get into neonatal nursing/NICU/mom & baby. I am finding it difficult to even get an interview without having experience on my resume with this population. Any suggestions on courses/certifications I could take to get my foot in the door?

[jrg127]

Hi bmacadams! I would recommend maybe taking NRP (neonatal resuscitation program) and a fetal monitoring course - both certifications are used in MBU.. NRP for NICU. I found myself thrown into mother/baby. L&D and NICU once I joined the military. The military was a great way to get specialized training and placement in specialty areas. If the military isn't an option -- I recommend trying to get those certifications. A great resource for CEUs that pertain to the women's health/NICU world is AWHONN.org

I hope that helps!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

What are you willing to do to get into NICU? Are you willing/ able to move to get experience in a NICU? I was a new grad and had the sole goal of getting into the NICU. I applied to every position that was posted that didn't say XXX yrs of NICU experienced required. I sent out between 50-100 applications throughout the country and was offered 2 positions. My suggestion would be to apply to any posting in a children's hospital. It is far easier to transfer to different unit internally. In the meantime, you will be gaining experience in pediatrics. Although NRP and STABLE will show an interest in the specialty, they don't add much value to an applicant because those classes will be offered during your orientation.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

Are you applying for specific positions that are posted or just sending in a resume? In our hospital it is difficult to get into the NICU because it's one of the units everyone is trying to get into so all of our open positions tend to get snapped up by an internal candidate. I entered the NICU as part of a new grad training program so didn't have to deal with getting passed over for internal applicants.

Have you considered volunteering in the NICU as a baby holder/rocker while you're still looking? We use lots of volunteers to comfort and rock our long term, chronic babies and NAS babies. It would allow you to meet some people on the unit including, potentially, the manager in charge of hiring. They would at least get to know you and see if you'd fit in well on the unit. Just an idea.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't think courses or certifications will help much. What you need is experience and connections. You may have to take a "transitional job" in acute care (preferable in the maternal-child realm) to be a bridge into the NICU. Another option is volunteer work -- either in a NICU or in a related field that might help you get a job on Mother/Baby, peds, etc.

NICU is an ICU -- and they'll want to know you are ICU-ready before they invest in you. So you want to apply with recent acute care or ICU experience -- and/or people who know you well enough to attest to your readiness.