Can I only ever work with children?

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I have been considering to become a nurse, but I only want to work with children. The field I would love to work on is pediatric oncology. Is it possible to start working from the beginning of your career with children only?

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That all depends on the jobs that are available to new grads in your area when you finish nursing school. If you happen to be lucky enough to land a job in peds right out of school, then sure, it's possible. But in this job market, and depending on the area, new grads can't be picky about jobs unfortunately, and sometimes have to take what they can get at the time.

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Depends on where you live. Pediatrics is a hard specialty to get into.

However, as much as your heart is set in peds, you HAVE to be open to the possibility of working in a different department.

I have my heart set in l&d. It's the only reason I went to school. AND I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where they hire new grads. But, I am still ok with the idea of working in another department to get my foot in the door if necessary.

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How do you know or where do you look for that? Since I have not started school and I am not even from the US, is it possible to know what's the best place to consider going to school for if I want to work in peds?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If you are in the UK the answer is simple the nursing education is specialized so go to nursing school to become a children's nurse.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

While it's great that you have a goal for your career, it is not realistic to expect that you will only ever work in pediatric oncology. Furthermore, you may get a taste of that specialty in your clinicals and realize that you could never, ever work in that area. Happens to a lot of nursing students.

Just concentrate on nursing school. Questions will be answered as you make your way thru school & clinicals.

(replying with the US in mind)

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If you are in the UK the answer is simple the nursing education is specialized so go to nursing school to become a children's nurse.

I am not from the UK, I am from Colombia, in South America. I would consider going there instead for college, but if USA is already incredibly expensive, I can't imagine how it must be in the UK. If you have any advice on info for international students and perhaps scholarships I would gladly take them.

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While it's great that you have a goal for your career, it is not realistic to expect that you will only ever work in pediatric oncology. Furthermore, you may get a taste of that specialty in your clinicals and realize that you could never, ever work in that area. Happens to a lot of nursed.

Just concentrate on nursing school. Questions will be answered as you make your way thru school & clinicals.

(replying with the US in mind)

Thank you. I do not expect to always work on oncology, but at least in pediatrics. It might sound weird, and perhaps unprofessional, but based on trauma, I do not think I would ever be capable of working with adults and elderly.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am not from the UK, I am from Colombia, in South America. I would consider going there instead for college, but if USA is already incredibly expensive, I can't imagine how it must be in the UK. If you have any advice on info for international students and perhaps scholarships I would gladly take them.

International students pay 3-5x the tuition and fees as citizens. There are almost no scholarships and no financial aid as part of a student visa is that you must show proof of funds not only for your tuition, fees, room & board but incidentals, medical and living expenses (enough to cover your entire stay in the US).

The intent of a student visa is to study here then return to your home country to practice as a professional. You would need to see if an overseas nursing education meets the standards of Columbia.

UK is even more difficult to attend as an international student as there are stipends and tuition payments for citizens.

You need to seek a nursing education in the country where you are able to live and work

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International students pay 3-5x the tuition and fees as citizens. There are almost no scholarships and no financial aid as part of a student visa is that you must show proof of funds not only for your tuition, fees, room & board but incidentals, medical and living expenses (enough to cover your entire stay in the US).

The intent of a student visa is to study here then return to your home country to practice as a professional. You would need to see if an overseas nursing education meets the standards of Columbia.

UK is even more difficult to attend as an international student as there are stipends and tuition payments for citizens.

You need to seek a nursing education in the country where you are able to live and work

That is incredibly hard because the nursing programs here are not very good, to the point that they are not taken into consideration if applying to work in another country. Pay is also incredibly low. If it's not overseas I doubt I will study it here. It's just not viable.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Are you wanting to work as a nurse in the USA, or in Colombia?

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Are you wanting to work as a nurse in the USA, or in Colombia?

In the USA.

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