Tips for a new grad wanting an NICU job= nursing school didn't prepare me!

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Hello all,

I am a new graduate RN who is looking for an NICU job (I have a few interviews coming up). In the meantime, I am planning on attending a Perinatal Neonatal Stream Nursing Certificate course in a few weeks. In addition, I have been reading some neonatal books such as the "Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing". I feel like I want to go into the NICU as an RN who has a really strong foundation- I don't want to walk in the first day and be COMPLETELY 100% lost. I don't know where to start though. There is SO much information in these books and I feel like I can only learn so much from a book and I would be able to learn more by hands-on. I don't think that nursing school prepared me to all of a sudden jump into something so specialized that I know nothing about. I just need reassurance and advice please :) It would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Nursing school prepares you to be a "generalist"; specialty areas (like NICU) take it from there. Orientations are usually fairly long and include didactic as well as clinical experiences. Don't worry too much.

Personally, I prefer Merenstein and Gardner to Core Curriculum. I think it explains things better. jmho

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Nursing school prepares you to be a "generalist"; specialty areas (like NICU) take it from there. Orientations are usually fairly long and include didactic as well as clinical experiences. Don't worry too much.

Personally, I prefer Merenstein and Gardner to Core Curriculum. I think it explains things better. jmho

Thanks so much for the reply! And I also have Gardner and Merenstein and I agree. Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

I am one who was definalty not ready to move into the NICU role right out of school....however, I have grown more the first year on the unit as a real nurse that i ever imagined!!! It is completely doable and I would not stress out much about it! You will most likely have a long orientation and will not take patients of your own until you feel comfortable.

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Specializes in ICN.

24 years ago I took a job in an ICN barely two months out of nursing school (I didn't even take the boards for two more months) and I felt completely at sea. I'd had NO exposure to preemies, very sick babies, etc and was very nervous. But I think all new nurses are, no matter what unit you start on. I had wonderful preceptors who taught me so much and prepared me for my work with babies. It still took a year before I felt totally proficient in the nursery, but I am still there these many years later.

Just get in there and be prepared to learn while you are on the job with your preceptors. I don't think enough can be said for on the job training with a good senior nurse at your elbow. The fact that you want to work in the ICN and are interested to prepare will get you far. Good luck

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Specializes in Home Health.

Hopefully you will have a strong orientation/preceptor program. Our orientation was for 6 months. It was awesome!

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Thank you so incredibly much everybody- your responses mean a lot to me.

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Specializes in NICU.

It takes at least a year to acquire a comfort level in NICU. The really great thing is that you are surrounded by other RNs all the time that you

can ask questions of. NICU nurses usually love to teach newbies. My advice to you is to try & get hired into a NICU nurse internship. They have a great one at Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. When I was there they hired new grads from all over the country into that program. I am sure there are other ones available, too. These are not just 12 week orientations. They are usually 6 to 12 mos. with classroom work & require signing a contract to stay & work afterwards as the hospital has put a tremendous investment of time & money into you. Large university hospitals with big NICUs are probably your best bet. If a NICU hires you they will run you through NRP & STABLE during orientation. There isn't a nursing program anywhere that prepares you for a NICU. That is hospital acquired education.

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