New grad needs advice. PDN??

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Nov 14, 2010

Well I did private duty pediatrics as a new grad LVN for similar reasons. It was the first job I was offered and I was thankful I got one after only 3 weeks.

Now I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't have quit your first job after 3 months since it's all been said and done. Do I think you can do PDN absolutely. Will you have some moments of extreme terror over things that turn out to be minor absolutely.

Start out small ease into and express your desire to work with infants and hopefully you can ease into your dream job somehow

WI_home_RN · Nov 14, 2010

I don't think you'll have any problems fitting into PDN. Since you do have a little med-surg background, that will just make it easier.

When I graduated from nursing school in 1996, I landed my dream job in OB immediately. I worked there for two years until the stressors of hospital work got to me. That and the fact that I was having trouble conceiving my 2nd baby and working day in and day out in OB wore me down mentally. I quit my OB job and that same week became pregnant with my #2 son. I then took a ten year break from nursing and became a stay-at-home mom. My second son was born with special needs and his first year of life was nonstop medical interventions so I did use my nursing at home on my own kid.

Then, August of 2009, I got a call from an RN friend of mine whom I knew did PDN but I really didn't know the details of it. She had forgotten that I was an RN and recently remembered. She had another RN going out on maternity leave and asked if I would join her pediatric case. Well, it took me two months to actually decide that yes I would try it. I was so unsure of myself. I hadn't worked in over ten years and my hospital experience was only two years in OB. I definitely felt inadequate!

I trained side-by-side with my RN friend for what was more than necessary because of my fears of being able to do the job properly and would I remember everything?

Here I am, one year later, still with my original peds case but also have an additional adult vent client as well. I actually enjoy doing PDN so much more than I did working my dream OB job in the hospital. Yes, the hospital experience definitely helped even tho it was so so long ago. But working PDN, you really do learn on-the-job, learn to problem-solve. I sometimes think of it as kind of "glorified babysitting" altho I know there is more to it than that. But some days are so easy, that that title does fit. That's not to say that my RN training doesn't come into play because it does. Just a week ago, I had my worst night shift ever with one of my peds patients. She had leg muscle spasms for 3.5 hours during the nite and then her sats began to drop. You always have to be on the ball and sharp in case of changes in the patient's condition like that.

If I can do PDN with my RN history behind me, I believe you can to. I really enjoy the flexibility of PDN and being in the home doing 1:1 cares is the best. I couldn't imagine taking care of 8-10 patients at a time today; I definitely could not give the kind of care that I give now and be happy with my performance.

Have you gotten a job in PDN yet? Let us know what's going on!! :)

caliotter3 · Nov 14, 2010

Another thing to consider is that you will want to work for an agency doing extended care or shift work, rather than private duty for a client. When you don't have the backing of an employer, you are on your own out there with no chance of back up when things get difficult with a private paying customer.

Ms_Bee · Nov 14, 2010

I don't think you'll have any problems fitting into PDN. Since you do have a little med-surg background, that will just make it easier.
When I graduated from nursing school in 1996, I landed my dream job in OB immediately. I worked there for two years until the stressors of hospital work got to me. That and the fact that I was having trouble conceiving my 2nd baby and working day in and day out in OB wore me down mentally. I quit my OB job and that same week became pregnant with my #2 son. I then took a ten year break from nursing and became a stay-at-home mom. My second son was born with special needs and his first year of life was nonstop medical interventions so I did use my nursing at home on my own kid.
Then, August of 2009, I got a call from an RN friend of mine whom I knew did PDN but I really didn't know the details of it. She had forgotten that I was an RN and recently remembered. She had another RN going out on maternity leave and asked if I would join her pediatric case. Well, it took me two months to actually decide that yes I would try it. I was so unsure of myself. I hadn't worked in over ten years and my hospital experience was only two years in OB. I definitely felt inadequate!
I trained side-by-side with my RN friend for what was more than necessary because of my fears of being able to do the job properly and would I remember everything?
Here I am, one year later, still with my original peds case but also have an additional adult vent client as well. I actually enjoy doing PDN so much more than I did working my dream OB job in the hospital. Yes, the hospital experience definitely helped even tho it was so so long ago. But working PDN, you really do learn on-the-job, learn to problem-solve. I sometimes think of it as kind of "glorified babysitting" altho I know there is more to it than that. But some days are so easy, that that title does fit. That's not to say that my RN training doesn't come into play because it does. Just a week ago, I had my worst night shift ever with one of my peds patients. She had leg muscle spasms for 3.5 hours during the nite and then her sats began to drop. You always have to be on the ball and sharp in case of changes in the patient's condition like that.
If I can do PDN with my RN history behind me, I believe you can to. I really enjoy the flexibility of PDN and being in the home doing 1:1 cares is the best. I couldn't imagine taking care of 8-10 patients at a time today; I definitely could not give the kind of care that I give now and be happy with my performance.
Have you gotten a job in PDN yet? Let us know what's going on!! :)

Wow. Such inspiration!! :yeah: Im glad you were able to come back after 10 years. I do no have a job in PDN but have an interview on Monday. 8-10 patients seems ridiculous to me too. When I first started my orientation I thought 4 patients was too much but eventually got up to 6 and was managing it. I Thank You for your words of encouragment. I was getting a lot of slack on the general nursing forum for even considering shiftcare/pdn, one said if I couldnt handle med-surge I had no business taking care of babies. The thing is, it wasnt a matter of handling it because I was, I just didnt like the work environment. Thanks again and I am glad you think I could do it. :)

Ms_Bee · Nov 14, 2010

Another thing to consider is that you will want to work for an agency doing extended care or shift work, rather than private duty for a client. When you don't have the backing of an employer, you are on your own out there with no chance of back up when things get difficult with a private paying customer.

Sorry for not specifying but the interview I have is for an agency doing shift-care in the patient home as you stated. I thought PDN was shift care in the home but maybe I was wrong

Lisa1203 · Dec 14, 2010

So, Ive been reading this site for months now but just recently decided to become a member. Im a new grad (graduated in May with my BSN) and started working at a local hospital (med-surge). I quit after about 3 months working. It was a very tough decision but just couldn't take it anymore. I was crying a lot of the time and couldn't enjoy time off because I was constantly worring about work. I get that its expected for new grads but I couldn't take it. I simply wasn't happy working med-surge and knew day 1 that I never wanted to work med-surge but accepted the job thinking I could handle a year of it to get experience. Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to work in the nursery and later going into NICU. Unfortunately there has not been an opening in Nursery since I began the job hunt in March.
Its has now been 3 months since I have left my med-surge position and I am getting worried that I will never find a job or that someone wont hire me because I have been without work for so long. I recently got a job offer but declined due to unsafe work practices. I have an interview next week for shift care in the home (pediatrics). After reading through different posts for PDN I thought it might be a good fit for me since one of the reasons I hated med-surge was lack of time spent with patients. But I also read posts saying that people don't recommend going into PDN without experience in med-surge. I have some experience but is it enough? Before interviews I tend to do research about different positions and scare myself into thinking I cant do it. So I just don't know what to do anymore. All my life I have wanted to become a nurse and I'm scared to think that maybe this is just not for me. I often get obsessed with all the "what ifs" and all the things that could go wrong in a situation which make me feel like I cant do nursing ☹. I would hate to give up on nursing but if I cant do med-surge and its not recommended to go into home health/PDN with such little experience, and there is no Nursery positions open, I don't know what to do? What do you all think, could a new grad with 3 months experience be successful in PDN? Sorry for the rant I just kind of needed to vent and hear another nurses opinion on my situation. I appreciate you all taking the time to read this and hope you can give me your opinions on my situation.

Yes - you can. I am an LPN with only experience in a dr's office before i started. I care for a pediatric pt (private duty - not thru an agency - but that's a whole different topic - although if I must say it's roughly double the pay).In the 2 pediatric cases i've done the parents actually tell me everything they want done. I've monitored blood sugar by pricking little fingers & the parents showed me how to both administer insulin via the pump & the formula to use to give the insulin - they also tell me when they want the blood sugar checked. I have administered meds thru a G-tube & the parents expected me to know how to do that - but I'm sure you can do that. I'm just giving you these details to show you there are many cases I'm sure you can handle. Also - there is a respiratory case I might consider taking & both the parents & the other nurses on the case will show me (or any nurse who takes the case) everything re suctioning & all of the equipment involved. All cases are different - but in a nutshell - if the only thing you're concerned about is lack of experience in med-surg - I wouldn't worry about it at all - besides - if you look at a case & don't feel comfortable you just don't take it. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!