Which hospitals hire new grads into the ICU?

Editorial Team / Admin · May 24, 2016

You need to research this in your own area. Look for job postings that state they are for new grad residencies or that new grads are welcome to apply. You've posted this in the general nursing forum- are you aware of just how many hospitals there are in the entire country? You've got to narrow it down somehow.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · May 24, 2016

I am a new graduate and am looking for a job in an ICU. Does anyone know which hospitals hire new grads into the ICU? I've been reading a lot of posts here of new grads who are starting work in ICUs and I wanted to know where they have actually been hired. Thanks!

Some indication of where you are or where you are willing to go would be helpful. Also, a new graduate what? RN, CNA, LPN? I assume you are in the USA, but you might not be.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 24, 2016

IMO, the best way to segue into ICU as a new grad is to find a hospital that offers a new grad residency. These programs pay you to go to class, ease into the units with a preceptor, and introduce you gradually to a full patient load (usually 2:1). There aren't many (if ANY) nursing schools which adequately prepare their grads to just step seamlessly into an ICU. Any job offer that doesn't include significant orientation with a preceptor and some classwork is something you should stay far far away from.

And yeah, please at least give your geographical region if you want kind of valuable assistance.

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 24, 2016

Every hospital I've ever worked in has hired new grads into ICU.

I am sure this is region specific, though. Figure out where you'd like to move, and research hospitals there to see if new grads get hired into ICU.

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · May 31, 2016

IMO, the best way to segue into ICU as a new grad is to find a hospital that offers a new grad residency. These programs pay you to go to class, ease into the units with a preceptor, and introduce you gradually to a full patient load (usually 2:1). There aren't many (if ANY) nursing schools which adequately prepare their grads to just step seamlessly into an ICU. Any job offer that doesn't include significant orientation with a preceptor and some classwork is something you should stay far far away from.

Definitely agree with this. As a new grad just off orientation on a med/surg/tele floor (while still classified as "critical care" - mostly to give us access to a couple of meds/interventions - we're still typically 4/5:1) there is NO WAY I would step foot in an ICU right after licensure. I still have someone more experienced eyeball my patients if I even have the slightest inkling I'm going to have to call an RRT.

I want to be in critical care eventually. And yes, the challenges of floor nursing (the demands, the time management, the patient load) are completely different to being on the unit... but I want to get comfortable in my own nursey skin before I kick it up a notch.