Transferring to NICU

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Specializes in Antepartm and Mother-Baby.

Long story short. I'm a new grad who is working on a mother-baby unit. I really like it, but it's not my passion. I find myself getting bored. I get excited when I have a sick baby, it gets my adrenaline pumping.

I've been in my current position for 4 months, I'm off orientation and I've gotten great reviews. When I interviewed for my current position it was also a interview for a new grad NICU position. I think I was 3rd choice for the NICU position, but my manager liked me enough to hire me for mother-baby. My nurse manager is the manager for both the NICU and mother-baby, she knew my first choice was NICU and said at some point I could possibly transfer. I've dreamed of being a NICU nurse for as long as I can remember. I have long term goals (15 years down the road) to possibly get my NNP.

I guess my question is. Should I bring up my desire to transfer yet, or do I need to hold off a little longer? How long should I wait? If I bring it up how should I approach it?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Most places have a one year time limit for transferring. Check your HR policies.

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Agree with the PP! Most require a year commitment before transferring- however since your manager manages both units ... You never know. It is unusual that a nurse manager covers mother-baby and nicu... How big is your nicu?!?!

I would approach it matter-of-factly. I appreciate the opportunity of working in mama-baby but having done it for four months has only piqued or reaffirmed my interest in NiCU. When there is an opening for NICU please think of me as I would love to learn more about critically ill infants as my passion and ultimate goal is to pursue a nursing career in NICU...Blah blah blah

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I would inquire when you've done at least 6 months. The need was most likely greater in M/B than in NICU.

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Specializes in Antepartm and Mother-Baby.
I would inquire when you've done at least 6 months. The need was most likely greater in M/B than in NICU.

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The need was greater in Mother-Baby.

Regarding everybody else, we have to be in our current position for 6 months before transferring so not too much longer regarding that.

The manager was originally just the NICU manager, but mother-baby lost their nurse manager and she took over for it too. We have a fairly big NICU although I don't know how many beds for sure. We are also currently building a brand new NICU and M/B tower so it's growing quick.

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I am in the same boat as you Heather but we have no manager on our floor period. I told my manager the same thing but she acted like she didn't hear me. My hospital's policy is 6 months after you are off orientation you can apply for internal transfer. You must be in good standing with your manager and have had no disciplinary action or write ups during your time on the unit. I talked to other NICU nurses and their unit secretaries (they know way more than some people think) about wanting to be a nicu nurse, not asking for a job, a good word or an interview, they told me that 15+ nurses were retiring in the fall and to keep an eye open for the positions opening up. If I had a manager and I was interested in taking one of the positions (I'm not really a fan of our NICU here) I would have then gone and discussed that opportunity with my manager or maybe a team leader since my manager was hardly ever on the floor even when she was here. I hope you get to transfer! Best of luck

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