Trying to switch to ICU

[JustAnotherNursemaybe, BSN, MSN]

I have 5 years of NICU experience and have been going on interviews for new to specialty icu positions. I really want to switch to adult icu. Lots of interviews but no offers. When they start asking me about my most critical patient and I start talking babies, their eyes just glaze over. I went straight into nicu as a new grad and im wondering if the no adult experience is killing me. The next round of new to specialty positions opens next august. Im wondering if working per diem on a ortho/spine/neuro floor until then would help? Or what should i do?

[beekee]

Step down/intermediate unit. They are usually stepping stones to ICUs.

[LovingLife123]

Could you try to some how translate your NICU patients into adult world? I agree that if you start going into extreme details with babies, nobody in the adult world is going to understand.

But we all understand difficult codes, those with airway issues, sepsis, pressure issues, things like that. Maybe you are getting too wordy. Does that make sense?

Ypu could do some prn in the adult world. Maybe that would make it easier for you to talk in adult terms in your interviews.

I’m in a specialized icu. If I were to interview for any other specialty, I would expect to be able to show them i know the basics and would be able to care for their patient population. There a huge difference in premie babies and an 75 year old.

[Red Shirt 6, CNA]

If there are any specialty training, certifications for NICU and ICU that you have you could present as needing less training and will integrate fast.