Career in pediatric nursing

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2007

Moved to Nursing Career Advice Forum. Good luck to you.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 15, 2007

I think you are severely limiting your options by refusing to consider jobs that include at least some night shifts. The patients don't go home at dinner time -- and most hospitals need nurses who are willing to help them meet the needs during the night shifts. If you want an entry-level staff nurse job, then you might have to suck it up and work a few night shifts. It won't be easy, but it might be necessary to do for a while to have the long-term career you want.

Surprisingly, you might benefit by working straight nights. Sometimes, people who find it hard to rotate, find they can tolerate straight nights becuase the consistency gives them a chance to "turn their body around" and reset their internal clocks to be up all night and sleep all day. On their days off, they either stay on a night shift schedule or live on an "in-between" schedule. It's the "going back and forth" between the days and the nights that causes the biggest problems.

Another option (since you are willing to relocate) is to find a job in pediatric public health or pediatric home care. It might be hard to get such a job as a new grad ... but since you have a successful previous career working with special-needs children, you might get lucky.

Another option might be a unit that does outpatient procedures -- such as dialysis, day surgery, or short-term procedure unit. My hospital does ocassionally hire new grads for its short-term procedure unit. It's a unit that has had some political problems, so it has not been able to attract some of the experienced nurses in the hospital to transfer there. They are therefore willing to consider a few new grads.

blacksea pebble · Jul 15, 2007

I think you are severely limiting your options by refusing to consider jobs that include at least some night shifts. The patients don't go home at dinner time -- and most hospitals need nurses who are willing to help them meet the needs during the night shifts. If you want an entry-level staff nurse job, then you might have to suck it up and work a few night shifts. It won't be easy, but it might be necessary to do for a while to have the long-term career you want.
Surprisingly, you might benefit by working straight nights. Sometimes, people who find it hard to rotate, find they can tolerate straight nights becuase the consistency gives them a chance to "turn their body around" and reset their internal clocks to be up all night and sleep all day. On their days off, they either stay on a night shift schedule or live on an "in-between" schedule. It's the "going back and forth" between the days and the nights that causes the biggest problems.
Another option (since you are willing to relocate) is to find a job in pediatric public health or pediatric home care. It might be hard to get such a job as a new grad ... but since you have a successful previous career working with special-needs children, you might get lucky.
Another option might be a unit that does outpatient procedures -- such as dialysis, day surgery, or short-term procedure unit. My hospital does ocassionally hire new grads for its short-term procedure unit. It's a unit that has had some political problems, so it has not been able to attract some of the experienced nurses in the hospital to transfer there. They are therefore willing to consider a few new grads.

Thank you for the feedback. I know I am limiting my choices. Unfortunately, I tried to go to straight nights about 6 times and each attempt cost me prolonged problems with immunity. Yes, I got sick every time and had to stay in bed with high fever. In my area, med serg experience also counts for career in school nursing, I might consider doing that.

Again, thank you for your advice.