Best training ground for PICU wannabe

Specialties PICU

Published

  1. Best training ground for PICU wannabe?

    • 2
      NICU
    • 7
      PICU
    • 0
      Other: (Please specify)

9 members have participated

Hello everyone. I would like some advice please. I am aware of the current new grad job market so I realize my question is potentially purely hypothetical. However, I am a strong candidate among my new grad peers and I firmly believe that having faith and believing that positive things will come into your life makes a difference and I like to prepare as such. Okay, with that little caveat addressed, in the future, I want to be a PICU nurse. I definitely know that pediatrics is where I belong and I have a strong desire to work specifically in critical care. I have spent some time in the NICU and I like it a lot, but I am the type of person that always needs new challenges. I need to be learning new things consistently and I don't like to feel stagnant. I know I would love the challenge of the NICU early on, but in my heart, I think a few years down the road, I would be bored. I'm drawn to the variety and complexity of the PICU.

IF I had a choice between accepting a position on a general peds med-surg floor or starting in the NICU (level 3 I believe, but ECMO and cardiac babies go to PICU), which position would better prepare me for a PICU position in the future? My hospital does not hire new grads in the PICU, but the NICU and peds floors do. I'm not sure if the ICU experience is an advantage or if the wider range of ages and conditions, albeit much less acute, is better.... or if it's 50/50. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

EDIT: UGHHHH.... I wanted the poll to say Peds not PICU. Sorry, going on little sleep!

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Look for PICU as well many hospitals will accept people with adult experience. Good Luck

Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

For what it's worth, I graduated almost 2 1/2 years ago, with my dream being to go into NICU or PICU after graduation (our local hospitals DO hire new grads). I was turned down for a PICU job and it seemed like NICU never had an opening when I needed a job so I took one in adult med-surg. Like you, it was one of the last things I wanted to do, and I never got "into" it. I cared for my patients the best I could and got good feedback from them and my peers, but my heart wasn't into it. I finally decided a month ago that I was ready to do something else so I applied for pedi and PICU at another hospital. I got the PICU job today, and with it, I will cross train in pedi, NICU, and newborn nursery. My new supervisor told me that she strongly feels that even if you want to be a pedi nurse, you really need a background in adult med surg first, and that is one reason she hired me. So hang in there and learn everything you can - it will NOT go to waste. I am SO EXCITED now about my new career path (I just had to take the scenic route to get there!). Good luck to you!

+ Add a Comment