Adult Care RN to DNP Pediatric Advice

Nurses General Nursing

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I am currently a new grad tele nurse but my dream has always been to be a pediatric nurse. I have my MSN in case management and was looking at furthering my education. I am currently looking at applying to DNP programs. However, I wonder if I should apply directly to the DNP Pediatric programs or if I should apply to the general adult DNP programs and then do a pediatric certification.

Also is there anything I should be doing to make me a stronger candidate for the pediatric program through my resume?

Any advice is much appreciated!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

You are a new grad tele nurse but you have an MSN in Case Management? Please explain.

Also, you do the NP in the specialty you want from the start- why do adults if what you want is Peds?

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Also is there anything I should be doing to make me a stronger candidate for the pediatric program through my resume?

Get some pediatric experience.

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I have a BS in biology and an entry level MSN in case management. I wanted bedside experience which is why I'm on Tele now as a new grad

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Yes, precisely. Any advice on what I can do other than work as a pediatric nurse? I was planning on doing CEs but any brainstorming on alternative ways to get experience would be helpful. Thanks!

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Yes, precisely. Any advice on what I can do other than work as a pediatric nurse? I was planning on doing CEs but any brainstorming on alternative ways to get experience would be helpful. Thanks!

I really don't think so. CEs are not an adequate substitute. You might find a program willing to accept you with absolutely no pediatric experience but I find it unlikely. Why don't you want to get pediatric experience?

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So I graduated from my nursing program and did 6 months pediatric home health but had trouble getting a new grad acute care pediatric postiiton since my preceptorship was med surg/tele. I've been at my current hospital for only 4 months which is why I'm hesitant to apply to another hospital for peds

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I understand. I still think you're fighting an uphill battle.

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Fair. Thanks for your honesty!

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Do you want to do acute care pediatrics or primary care pediatrics? Acute care will likely require you to have pediatric bedside experience, but primary care programs might not.

Also, I am just curious - I've never heard of a MSN in case management? Is it specifically meant for nurses working as case managers, or just generally a health care administration/management focus?

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The program I'm looking into on their website says that for acute care peds NP acute care (nonspecific) for one year is preferred but for primary care it did not list any preferences

I'm now also looking into graduate certificates to see if my MSN would apply

MSN in CM is relatively new only a few schools in the US have it I believe but it's similar to CNL where a lot of the focus is on quality improvement and discharge planning

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like an interesting degree.

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