Question about experience before entering a Pediatric NP Program

[soniafern]

Hi everyone,

I live in NJ and am currently working as an RN at Planned Parenthood. My end goal is to become a Pediatric NP and work in a pediatrician's office. Would like to know if it would be more beneficial to get pediatric hospital experience or office experience while I'm still an RN. I'm currently getting my RN-BSN and have two years left. Any tips from PNP's or people in the PNP program would be helpful.

Also, I'm planning on applying to Rutgers' PNP program in the future so any info on that would be helpful as well.

Thanks so much!

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Have you asked an adviser/counselor at the program you are considering applying to? I would think they would be able to give you better advice than we will.

Individually, I would think it could not hurt to gain experience in as close of a setting as the one you hope to practice in as possible. Now, having said that, would I change jobs without hesitation? No. I would lean towards making contacts in that area (you will need these for clinicals in the future anyway), and seek out chances to gain experience on days off, etc. If a job that was ideal, that was going to give me as much as my current job gave me came available, then of course I would take it. But, I wouldn't think that I HAD to change jobs. Of course, the PNP folks and your school may have different advise.

[Annaiya, NP]

I would highly recommend getting a job where you are working with kids. Getting used to the age differences and how to exam them is a huge part of being a PNP. Most clinics don't use RNs as far as I know, but if you want less acute kids, home health might be an option. They seem to always need pediatric home health nurses. Relevant experience isn't absolutely necessary but it will help you feel a lot more comfortable while you are new.