pediatric vs adult neuro

[irotcrv]

I am close to graduating (84 days!) and am stuck between these two. Theres a very good chance I can start working in either as soon as I am done with school, but wanted to hear from anyone who has done both or either.

I was always interested in peds. I did a pediatric rotation on a post-op floor, and when it was time to go to hematology/oncology floor I got floated to the adult ED due to there being too many students and not enough patients. I will be having a community experience at an outpatient pediatric oncology unit next week. I really do like pediatrics, but being on the post op floor made it feel like the day was slow (i only had 1 patient so that didnt help) and that it was similar to an adult med-surg minus all of the pre/co existing illnesses.

I have not done any neuro rotation but have had a few of those patients. We toured this particular hospital (which was in a bigger city) and got to learn about a patient case on the neuro ICU floor. We got to meet the patient and was able to see the equipment and the nurse went over what she would be doing with him throughout the day. Since then, I have been all about neuro. Just dont want to make the wrong move..

[ottersloveoysters]

I have no experience working in pediatrics so I can't speak to that but I do work in adult neuro. The disease populations can be fascinating but a lot of the populations I work with have terminal illnesses so it can be tough. There is a lot to be done nursing-wise, though. The physicians really rely on us for help with symptom management and guiding patients to palliative care or hospice. There is a lot of teaching with regard to disease processes, end of life care, etc.