Structured Training for Pediatric Nurses?

[Sehille4774]

Hey Peds Nurses,

I am a peds nurse now...Have been for about 2 years..I had to learn alot on the job...especially since my cases are specialty home care cases. Many schools now offer minimal pediatric training since peds nursing has been de-emphasized on the NCLEX.

So while I would have been pretty much trained and ready following nursing school to care for the adult acute care position...I was wondering does anyone have any recommendations for where to obtain a more comprehensive pediatric education? How do entry level pediatric acute care nurses obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to get hired and succeed in that setting??

Was also thinking about taking the Certified Pediatric Nurse test. Can anyone recommend any online course or good study materials to do on my own?

Thanks for any help!!

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

What is a "specialty home care" case as opposed to run-of-the-mill homecare? I am also doing pediatric homecare and I wonder if what I do counts as "specialized."

[llg, PhD, RN]

How do entry level pediatric acute care nurses obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to get hired and succeed in that setting??

Thanks for any help!!

Most children's hospitals and pediatric units in general hospitals have extensive orientation programs and regular inservices for their staff. We know that many of our new hires (new grads or not) have minimal knowledge and experience with pediatrics ... so we provide the education. It's a major expense for us and that's becoming a problem as the gap between what students learn and what practicing nurses need to know is growing.

[Sehille4774]

Ha. Jeanette73, Just a technicality. Since Peds is a specialty anyway..I should have said Hi Tech versus Lo Tech...and all that means is trach and vent versus natural airway. Its funny...because alot of times I feel safer on the trach and vents..because they are mandated to have most of not all of the necessary equipment. If they are having breathing problems..they already have a trach so it is far easier to manage their secretions....(compared to caring for a "low tech" brain injury with copious secretions and very poor cough effort where the best you can do is nebs and CPT and nasopharyngeal suctioning..and you are really working hard to keep their SATs up and airway clear)

But the kinds of cases I have encountered over the last 2 years...omg. All kinds of unusual birth defects and disorders..half of which I never heard of before...multi-system involvement. Who knew you could learn so much doing home care?

Thanks LLG!!! That puts alot of things in perspective. (Also raises my hopes of getting hired in a Children's Hospital some day)