From PEDs private duty to PEDs in the hospital?

Specialties Pediatric

Published

I recently accepted a job in Peds private duty home health. I am very excited about this position! I am a new grad that is having a very hard time breaking into the hospital scene. I have a BSN but moved 1000 miles away and have no inside contacts. I know I am lucky to be starting this position in peds home health but I can't help but wish that I had a job in the hospital. My question is how many of you started off in home health and where able to later find positions on the Pediatrics floor at a hospital? I am hoping that after I get more experience with trachs, vents, and feeding tubes I will be more valuable to hospitals than I am right now. Even if I end up LOVING peds home care I can't stay forever because I need health insurance and they are not offering me that. Thanks for any input you may have :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

I moved from Peds PD to Peds in a hospital. Had to have a lot of patience, it took 2.5 years, but I got there. A friend of mine was able to land a job in a children's hospital in a much shorter amount of time but it required them to move 5 hours away. I think it really depends on your location, but it is possible. Good luck :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for your input! :) I really appreciate it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, orthopedics.

I work in peds private duty now and I know several people from my agency who, after about a year, have been hired onto peds units at hospitals. It definitely happens. If you're working with a good agency, the hopsital HR will recognize the name and judge your competency accordingly. My kiddos all have vents, trachs, gtubes, or implanted ports so I already feel very comfortable with those things--more comfortable than many of my friends who are currently working in hospitals! I deal with them all the time and it's just me, so I have to know everything about them!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great to hear that it can happen! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I hope it can! I was in your situation, I took a PDN job since nothing else was available. I wasn't able to get a peds hospital job right away but I did get into the hospital. I work on an adult surgical floor but I hope to eventually transfer to the peds floor!

Little advice, don't let managers say your work in PDN isn't experience. Play up your skills, you will gain some!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Update! I landed a job in the children's hospital in my town!!!! I am so excited :geek: Thank you everyone for giving me hope. I just never thought it would happen this fast!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

Oh wow! That happened very fast. Did you ever even start PDN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have only done 2 weeks of private duty. So far I do like it. My preceptors have been amazing! I have a full schedule for private duty all of November and then I start working at the hospital December 3rd (general orientation). I think I would still like to do a private duty shift here and there when other nurses have to call off or whatever but I don't really know how the agency will handle that. Pure luck that I even got the position because I don't know a single person at the hospital. They called me so fast I didn't even have time to call and "check" on my resume! I'm sure that sort of thing is very rare for a new grad and I am so thankful that everything fell into place!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment