What path should I take to get into the NICU one day?

[Des1278]

Hello all! :)

My dream is to eventually become a NICU nurse one day. Here's a little bit of background..

I am a nursing student in an ADN program, with two semesters left.. My plan is to get my BSN directly after graduation. I currently work as a CNA on a med surg floor, and the hospital I am is hires new head nurses who already work within the hospital over nurses who do not work in the hospital. I want to transfer floors as a CNA so I can get my foot in the door on a floor that would guide me to working in the NICU. I am not a fan of med surg nursing at all..and I can't picture myself being a nurse there.

So my question is, what kind of background do you need before applying to NICU positions? What floor would be most beneficial for me to start working as a nurse on?

Thanks in advance :)

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Many of the nurses who where hired with me (9 of us) had ER backgrounds. The ones that didn't, did preceptorships in a NICU.

If your school offers preceptorships, do it in the NICU. Also, apply for nurse tech or CNA jobs in a NICU while still in school if possible. When you are close to graduating, start applying to big NICUs since they seem to be friendlier to new grads. Be willing to move and apply EVERYWHERE.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

If your school offers preceptorships, do it in the NICU. Also, apply for nurse tech or CNA jobs in a NICU while still in school if possible. When you are close to graduating, start applying to big NICUs since they seem to be friendlier to new grads. Be willing to move and apply EVERYWHERE.

Exactly what I did. Got a NICU preceptorship and applied to between 50-100 positions in 12 states. You need to cast a very wide net if you want to get into NICU. Out of those 50-100 applications, I got 2 interviews and 2 job offers.

[guest769224]

Exactly what I did. Got a NICU preceptorship and applied to between 50-100 positions in 12 states. You need to cast a very wide net if you want to get into NICU. Out of those 50-100 applications, I got 2 interviews and 2 job offers.

Did you spend money to fly in or drive a long way just for a chance to interview? Did you insist on a possible phone interview instead?

Applying nationally does increase your chances obviously, but it seems like an expensive process.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Both were initially phone interviews. Both of the in-person interviews were 3 days apart. I drove 3 hours on Friday for the first interview in Louisville and then drove back home after the interview. Two days later (Sunday) I jumped on a plane to Raleigh, drove to Greenville, NC and stayed the night. On Monday, I drove to the hospital for the interview. After the interview/ job shadow (was there for 5 hours), I went back to the hotel and flew back Tuesday. The hospital in NC paid for my airfare, 2 nights hotel, and rental car for the interview. So, the cost was minimal (gas and meals for both interviews).

[Des1278]

Thank you all! I'm in NJ and the ADN program does not offer preceptorships as far as I am aware of

[prmenrs, RN]

If you're going right into a BSN program, you may be able to get a preceptorship then. Trying to get a CNA job in a NICU is a great way to go, imo.

[tallynurse]

If you want to stay in the area, I would suggest trying to meet with the managers at NICUs in the are to ask what they prefer to see. When I was in nursing school I got the opportunity to meet the manager at the only local NICU through a school event and she said she prefers that if you don't get hired into NICU as a new grad, that you work post partum to get used to well babies. But every unit is a bit different. Use your contacts at your current job to help you too. I was a nurse extern (basically a CNA position offered to nursing students) in the PACU while getting my ASN and my manager as a large part of why I got hired in the NICU as a new grad. I made a good impression in the PACU so my manager bugged the NICU manager to hire me.