picu/nicu/peds

[gladysh Rn]

Hello nurses,I need some opinions from those of you that have worked this areas of hursing for a while. I have been presented with the opportunity to work in either nicu, picu, or general peds. I did a rotation during school through those floors, but now that i'fe been working in an adults floor, i realize that its completelly.different to float through a floor as a student and to actually work there. So i would like to hear from those nurses that have been there. What do you feel about working with kids. Would you change it. Would you preffer nicu over picu or peds? Whats the good, the bad etcThank you

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

There are quite a few threads on this topic already. Have you read through any of them for the answers to your questions?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I work PICU and float to the other two. PICU is my favorite by far. There is such a variety of ages/ conditions/ acuity.

It 'speaks' to me. General peds is too med/surg for me (I've done adult med/surg). NICU is kind of boring if you ask me.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't prefer NICU but, that's me. I've never worked NICU or PICU. I've done peds inpatient (neuro specialty floor), per diem high school and now home health. I prefer kids who can talk to me than babies.

[katierobin23]

NICU here, but it's all what you prefer. I like the high acuity of intensive care, but I wouldn't want to take care of all age ranges like you would in a PICU. I like that my age range is 22-40ish weeks and up to four or five months old. I wouldn't want to take care of an infant one day and a teenager the next. But that's me. Best of luck wherever to end up!

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I don't recommend any new grad work in any intensive care units until they have a couple of years of general peds under their belts.

[DisneyLoveRN]

I agree with the response that you should do peds first. I believe that going to ICU settings right after school is to stressful for the inexperienced.

[JRich]

I work in NICU and I LOVE IT!!! We hire new grads often. I used to think I wanted L&D, but once I started working in the NICU I knew that was where I was meant to be. I wouldn't wanna go to any other specialty. I did cardiac before I went to NICU