General Pediatrics vs. PICU

Specialties Pediatric

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.

I am a new grad (August '08) and have received two job offers, one is on a general peds floor and the other is PICU. Two different hospitals, different locations, etc. Does anyone have any words of wisdom re: where to start as a new grad. I realize that everyone is different, and I can honestly see myself working in either unit, but if anyone has anything to say, please go ahead. I am having a rough time making this decision! Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

If the PICU that has offered you a job has a really good preceptorship program, new grads should do very well. But the key is that your learning is supported and nurtured, that you're given ample time to learn and that you get regular feedback on progress. The learning curve is really steep in PICU for new grads because you're still developing time management, organizational and assessment skills at the same time that you need to be learning very complex clinical information. Some important things to know about the preceptorship are how many hours of classroom education will you get, how long you will be buddied, whether your buddied shift assignments will be selected on the basis of your learning needs and not on the needs of the unit... as in they've assigned you and your buddy the sickest kid in the unit because they don't have enough senior staff on the shift and your preceptor is the only choice. You won't learn much because you'll pretty much just be watching her work. If you can satisfy yourself that they will give you the support you need to develop into a strong PICU nurse, then I'd say take that job. If you can't then I'd take the general peds position for a while so that you can become a great nurse, then move to PICU. Does that make sense?

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Specializes in Quality Improvement / Informatics.

Hey shinyblackcar,

Congrats on the two job offers! That must feel really great. In which department did you do your preceptorship? I'm trying to figure out if I should do it in ped's med/surg, the PICU, or the ped's ER.

Any advice? Anyone else?

Thanks!

Rob

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
Hey shinyblackcar,

Congrats on the two job offers! That must feel really great. In which department did you do your preceptorship? I'm trying to figure out if I should do it in ped's med/surg, the PICU, or the ped's ER.

Any advice? Anyone else?

Thanks!

Rob

Thanks!

I didn't have a preceptorship in school (I had a transitions/capstone clinical but we didn't have a choice of where to do it-- we were all in med/surg at the veterans medical center). You are lucky that you have a choice. I wanted to do peds so bad. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
If the PICU that has offered you a job has a really good preceptorship program, new grads should do very well. But the key is that your learning is supported and nurtured, that you're given ample time to learn and that you get regular feedback on progress. The learning curve is really steep in PICU for new grads because you're still developing time management, organizational and assessment skills at the same time that you need to be learning very complex clinical information. Some important things to know about the preceptorship are how many hours of classroom education will you get, how long you will be buddied, whether your buddied shift assignments will be selected on the basis of your learning needs and not on the needs of the unit... as in they've assigned you and your buddy the sickest kid in the unit because they don't have enough senior staff on the shift and your preceptor is the only choice. You won't learn much because you'll pretty much just be watching her work. If you can satisfy yourself that they will give you the support you need to develop into a strong PICU nurse, then I'd say take that job. If you can't then I'd take the general peds position for a while so that you can become a great nurse, then move to PICU. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the thoughtful response, janfrn. Whenever I think about it, I keep going back to the PICU job... I have a feeling that is where I will end up. I think it will give me more opportunities in the future. It is indeed a very good orientation program, and I feel I will have the necessary support there.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I love PICU; it was my goal from the minute I decided to take the plunge and go to school. (Personal experience as a PICU parent will either make you want it so bad you can taste it, or want to go to the opposite extreme!) There are days when I HATE my job, but I LOVE my work. If that makes sense. When I get especially disgruntled with my employer and feel like I'm done, I find myself trying to think of where I could go that I'd be happier, and am never able to come up with anything. So I'm working toward make the unit a better place to work. I may not succeed but at least I'll have tried.

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Specializes in PICU.

Hey I am an English PICU nurse and I went to PICU as my first job....we have a really good education programme that goes along side the job and it includes lots of support and hard work....it took me about 6 months to settle into PICU as it was a very big learning curve when we finally had to leave our mentors behind and take patients n our own.

The things I miss working in PICU in comparison to other wards I have worked on the children I care for are mostly sedated and paralysed....so they don't move or interact with you, the sound of the unit is of staff members and machines....not childrens voices or sounds.

I hope you enjoy your new ob which ever one you take.

If you have any quesions i'm happy to help x

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