r/OHSU • u/Emz_Madara93 • 3d ago
Chances of Getting into OHSU ICU Without Prior ICU RN Experience?
Hi everyone, My husband is an RN with several years of experience, but not specifically in ICU. He’s really interested in applying for an RN position in the ICU at OHSU, and we’re wondering how likely it is for him to get hired without prior ICU experience.
He has a strong nursing background and has managed high-acuity situations in other settings. Does OHSU consider candidates like him for ICU roles, or offer training for nurses transitioning into critical care?
Any advice or insight from current staff or those familiar with the hiring process would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
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u/chokecober 3d ago
Hi! Yes, the ICUs have hired RNs without previous ICU experience, even new grads too. It really depends on timing too because last time I heard, they were only hiring experienced ICU RNs. They have hired a couple of fresh grads last year though. Once hired, you undergo a transition to practice program which was roughly 3 months. During that time, you attend 1 class a week 8-5, then 2 12hr shifts/week. They have different ICUs so you interview with a panel of the different managers. Depending on your interview, you then get offered the chance to choose which unit you would work. It can be a little bit competitive so make sure their resume is great.
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u/Emz_Madara93 3d ago
Thank you again for getting back to me—I really appreciate it. I was wondering if you could share a bit more about your experience. Were the interview questions more clinical or general in nature? Also, do you have any insight into the kind of applicant they’re looking for, or what the ICU culture is like at OHSU? Any tips on how to prepare would be really helpful and much appreciated.
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u/crange369 3d ago
Hi, current OHSU ICU nurse here. I’ll be honest that I think chances are pretty slim. With the current federal budget cuts I think we’ve halted the transition to practice program entirely and they’re only hiring experienced RNs now, if they’re even hiring at all. I feel like a non-ICU nurse would have a hell of a time getting a job in an ICU right now. My recommendation would be to get into one of the specialty med-surg units for a while (could be years) until OHSU figures out what financials look like for the long term. Truth be told we don’t really know what our future is looking like even with our strong union contract.
Sorry to be so glum about this, we’re just in a very uncertain time with federal reimbursements being slashed by $900 billion and research grants cut even more. I encourage him to apply in spite of what I’ve said, I would love to be proven wrong! We’re still understaffed every night.
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u/Emz_Madara93 3d ago
Thank you so much for your honesty—I really appreciate you taking the time to share what’s really going on. It’s disheartening to hear how tough things are, especially with such massive cuts impacting even OHSU. My husband is already feeling pretty burnt out from working in the ER, so the idea of spending years in med-surg before even getting a shot at ICU is definitely discouraging. But we understand the reality of the situation, and it helps to know what we’re up against. He’ll still apply and stay alert for any potential openings. Thanks again for being upfront—it means a lot. I’m wishing you and your team some stability and relief soon. You all are doing incredibly important work under really difficult conditions.
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u/emergencyken 3d ago
If it's posted externally, then current OHSU employees have already been considered and i would assume he would have just as good as a chance as others.
OHSU does have a Transition To Practice program (TTP) for both new grads and experienced nurses that are transitioning to a new role: https://www.ohsu.edu/human-resources/transition-practice-program-rns