Anyone Worked in Pediatric Specialty Care Center

[peachshan, BSN, RN]

I have applied for a specialty care RN position with my local children's hospital. I have 6 months of Med-Surg on an adult renal/urology floor and 7 months as a school nurse. I wanted to know if anyone has worked at a pediatric specialty care center? Is it considered an ambulatory center? The work hours would M-F 8:00-4:00pm. I am praying that I get an offer especially since I have always wanted to work with this healthcare organization (CHOA). 

[Erica Larsen]

Right now, with such a high need for RNs, I can't imagine you not being able to get some job at CHOA. I have worked within the specialty of hem/onc/bmt for my entire career, both in the inpt and outpt environments. Because of the hours posted, my best guess would be ambulatory. However, there are many specialties in pediatrics. Our pediatric infusion center takes kids from hem/onc/bmt, rheumatology, GI, neurology, endocrinology and there are other specialties that I am not thinking of at the moment. If you are not able to get the position you have applied for at CHOA, maybe there is a position that is in general peds that might be a better starting point for you. Ask the manager if they know of any other positions that might be a better fit. Your experience with kids is definitely helpful; so, be sure to play that up in an interview. You could say the school RN position was a way for you to get your foot in the door of pediatrics and confirm that you do, in fact, enjoy working with kids. The school RN position, my guess, allowed you to learn a lot of time management and critical thinking skills. 

Good luck! 

[peachshan, BSN, RN]

On 2/18/2022 at 1:42 PM, Erica Lorificen said:

Right now, with such a high need for RNs, I can't imagine you not being able to get some job at CHOA. I have worked within the specialty of hem/onc/bmt for my entire career, both in the inpt and outpt environments. Because of the hours posted, my best guess would be ambulatory. However, there are many specialties in pediatrics. Our pediatric infusion center takes kids from hem/onc/bmt, rheumatology, GI, neurology, endocrinology and there are other specialties that I am not thinking of at the moment. If you are not able to get the position you have applied for at CHOA, maybe there is a position that is in general peds that might be a better starting point for you. Ask the manager if they know of any other positions that might be a better fit. Your experience with kids is definitely helpful; so, be sure to play that up in an interview. You could say the school RN position was a way for you to get your foot in the door of pediatrics and confirm that you do, in fact, enjoy working with kids. The school RN position, my guess, allowed you to learn a lot of time management and critical thinking skills. 

Good luck! 

Thank you so much! The position is actually for a Sickle Cell Clinic! I plan on talking up my school nurse experience, especially about time management and critical thinking skills. The interview/shadow is on Monday!