Willing to relocate for a NICU job- help pleasee

wannabe07 · May 24, 2010

Hello,

Just wanted to say hello! I am also a new grad (almost old grad) and have interviewed everywhere, even went to Texas from California for a NICU interview. NICU is my passion, and I also will move ANYWHERE for it!

Good luck with applying. Have you tried Texas? I can tell you for sure CA is saturated with new grads, as is Nevada and apparently Arizona as well. I know you want close to NY though but just wanted to give you a heads up.

Best of luck! Hopefully soon we will both be working with the itty-bittys.

carebearsRN · May 24, 2010

wannabe07, how did the interview go at Texas and CA? sigh yea.. everywhere is saturated with new grads

fitRNpic · May 25, 2010

I am right there with you. I have wanted a career in NICU since before I even went to school to become an RN. I am not a new grad (Graduated in Spring 2007) and have 3 years experience in a variety of areas but have been unable to get a position in NICU. I have also decided that I would be willing to relocate for a life long career in NICU, no luck here in the Midwest (IL and WI). I have spoken to a few hospitals in TX, but most of them will not hire unless you have experience. How is a nurse supposed to get experience in the area they desperately want, when no one will hire those nurses without experience!

Believe me, I understand what you all are going through, it's not just new grads that are going through it. I have been dealing with employment issues for 3 years. I had to force myself to take positions that I really did not want just to be able to live and support my family. I have been waiting for a miracle to happen for 3 years.

Good luck to you. I you find somewhere that is willing to hire inexperienced (less experienced nurse's) in the NICU, let me know.

wannabe07 · May 25, 2010

I am right there with you. I have wanted a career in NICU since before I even went to school to become an RN. I am not a new grad (Graduated in Spring 2007) and have 3 years experience in a variety of areas but have been unable to get a position in NICU. I have also decided that I would be willing to relocate for a life long career in NICU, no luck here in the Midwest (IL and WI). I have spoken to a few hospitals in TX, but most of them will not hire unless you have experience. How is a nurse supposed to get experience in the area they desperately want, when no one will hire those nurses without experience!
Believe me, I understand what you all are going through, it's not just new grads that are going through it. I have been dealing with employment issues for 3 years. I had to force myself to take positions that I really did not want just to be able to live and support my family. I have been waiting for a miracle to happen for 3 years.
Good luck to you. I you find somewhere that is willing to hire inexperienced (less experienced nurse's) in the NICU, let me know.

Thanks for sharing your story. I spoke to a manager at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, and she said she would definitely hire a nurse who has med/surg or any other experience, as the time management and nursing skills are perfected before they start. Of course they would put you through orientation for the NICU. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get a NICU job and was worried about my chances later down the road.

I also spoke to Children's Hospital in San Diego and they said no, they would not hire without NICU experience, unless the market of applicants forced them to choose someone from the outside. Although the recruiter did say this has happened in the past when applications were down, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it really depends on the hospital. It may be worth it to you to call hospitals and speak to the managers personally.

Have you also considered maybe becoming a volunteer as a NICU greeter or cuddler? That is a way to network, and if you get to know a manager, they may be willing to hire you if a position opens.

Hope this helps!

wannabe07 · May 25, 2010

wannabe07, how did the interview go at Texas and CA? sigh yea.. everywhere is saturated with new grads

Hello! Thank you for asking! The interview in TX went fabulously and I am currently waiting for an offer. They are hiring four (interviewed 20) and they said that I am their first choice for the Level II (which I wanted!) and that they are just waiting for admin to straighten out details, etc. I am very excited! It will be interesting going from San Diego to Houston but will be wonderful because I will have my dream job!

I am also waiting to hear back from Children's Los Angeles for a second interview. This would also be in NICU. But I believe I will take the first offer I can get, especially with this crazy job market and the oversaturation of new grads.

Have you considered volunteering in a NICU? Might open up some networking possibilities. What state are you in?

Do you have your NRP? I would definitely suggest getting it. Although it was expensive I did it and I think this is what sets me apart from others and has landed me three NICU interviews. I also joined two professional organizations to show my committment to NICU nursing...NANN and AWHONN. In my interviews I spoke about the importance of research, and asked how I can get involved in research in the unit, etc. I gave examples of some studies on noise in the NICU and prone position for mechanical ventilation, all of which were from magazines sent to me by my membership in these organizations. I think this impressed them because after that the interview took a swing in the right direction. :)

Lastly, my cover letter took me forever to perfect and I think my NICU letter far outweighs my other cover letters, and by reading the letter, it is evident how passionate I am about becoming a NICU nurse. It is amazing, because I have been interviewing for adult units and I finally received interviews after many many months of applying to NICU positions. This all started happening after I tweaked my resume and cover letter considerably.

Also, a lot of prayer helps too!

carebearsRN · May 25, 2010

hiii, yes, I am volunteering at NICU but the manager said they're not hiring right now. I've also done preceptorship for 1 month at another prestigious hospital before graduation and they're not hiring new grads right now. I joined academy of neonatal nursing & NANN. I'm waiting to do my NRP and my wallet is aching b/c it's expensive but I want to stand out =( I hope this will help me b/c I've read the forums that even though ppl joined the associations & are NRP certified , they're not having any luck.

and see, even with experience... the NICU is hard to get into b/c it's just so specialized and different from others. I have heard that most ppl who switched from adult units had to "unlearn" skills for the NICU.

wannabe07 · May 25, 2010

hiii, yes, I am volunteering at NICU but the manager said they're not hiring right now. I've also done preceptorship for 1 month at another prestigious hospital before graduation and they're not hiring new grads right now. I joined academy of neonatal nursing & NANN. I'm waiting to do my NRP and my wallet is aching b/c it's expensive but I want to stand out =( I hope this will help me b/c I've read the forums that even though ppl joined the associations & are NRP certified , they're not having any luck.
and see, even with experience... the NICU is hard to get into b/c it's just so specialized and different from others. I have heard that most ppl who switched from adult units had to "unlearn" skills for the NICU.

Well it sounds like you are on the right track, that is for sure. I would keep being the squeeky wheel at the place you volunteer. I understand the aching wallet, I have had to go into forbearance for some of my school loans, there is no way I can pay them on a non-nurse income right now!

The fact that you did a NICU preceptorship is huge, and I hope you will be hearing better news of openings, soon. What state are you in?

anali · May 25, 2010

try white memorial WMMC in los angeles, we are loosing nurses left and right. we have a level 3 unit but no surgeries. GReat place to learn basic skills, time management, creitical thinking.

wannabe07 · May 25, 2010

try white memorial WMMC in los angeles, we are loosing nurses left and right. we have a level 3 unit but no surgeries. GReat place to learn basic skills, time management, creitical thinking.

Thanks for the tip! May I ask why nurses are leaving? Management issues?

fitRNpic · May 25, 2010

Thanks for sharing your story. I spoke to a manager at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, and she said she would definitely hire a nurse who has med/surg or any other experience, as the time management and nursing skills are perfected before they start. Of course they would put you through orientation for the NICU. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get a NICU job and was worried about my chances later down the road.
I also spoke to Children's Hospital in San Diego and they said no, they would not hire without NICU experience, unless the market of applicants forced them to choose someone from the outside. Although the recruiter did say this has happened in the past when applications were down, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it really depends on the hospital. It may be worth it to you to call hospitals and speak to the managers personally.
Have you also considered maybe becoming a volunteer as a NICU greeter or cuddler? That is a way to network, and if you get to know a manager, they may be willing to hire you if a position opens.
Hope this helps!

I am not a cuddler or greeter for NICU and where I live, it is not possible. The closest NICU to where I live is where I had my first NICU job. It did not work out because it is not the right hospital for me and they do not provide a nurturing, caring, helpful environment to new grads. So being a cuddler there is completely out of the question. All of the other NICU's are well over an hour away. I can't afford to become a member of any organizations such as NANN and AWHONN. It is very expensive if you are not a new grad or student nurse. I do however have contacts within NANN and speak to them often. I have had my NRP since 2007 and keep it updated. Also, all of the CEU/CME courses that I do are Neonatal based. Yet, all of these things are not helping me to get a job in NICU.

I too am looking for possible relocation to TX. There are a lot of NICU's down there and most are hurting for Neonatal Nurses. However, I need to find a hospital that will help with relocation expenses and if possible, the expense of getting a TX license. I can not afford to relocate without help.

Thanks for your response.

wannabe07 · May 25, 2010

I am not a cuddler or greeter for NICU and where I live, it is not possible. The closest NICU to where I live is where I had my first NICU job. It did not work out because it is not the right hospital for me and they do not provide a nurturing, caring, helpful environment to new grads. So being a cuddler there is completely out of the question. All of the other NICU's are well over an hour away. I can't afford to become a member of any organizations such as NANN and AWHONN. It is very expensive if you are not a new grad or student nurse. I do however have contacts within NANN and speak to them often. I have had my NRP since 2007 and keep it updated. Also, all of the CEU/CME courses that I do are Neonatal based. Yet, all of these things are not helping me to get a job in NICU.
I too am looking for possible relocation to TX. There are a lot of NICU's down there and most are hurting for Neonatal Nurses. However, I need to find a hospital that will help with relocation expenses and if possible, the expense of getting a TX license. I can not afford to relocate without help.
Thanks for your response.

Definitely look into Texas. I hope it works out for you! :redbeathe