Choosing pediatrics

[trelly]

Hello. I have a little girl that is chronically ill and in the local hospital on the peds floor several times a year, usually for just a night or two. Do you think it would be a good idea or bad idea to work on the peds floor? I have always wanted to, and it is the only peds place in the area. Thanks!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

This is kind of a nebulous situation. As the mom of a medically complex child, you have a lot to offer the pediatric population and their families. BUT there are some who would think you might have problems separating the nurse from the mother when (if) your own child becomes a patient. As a result of this bias, you may not be seriously considered for an opening by the manager unless you can get there first and make a great pitch for why you would be perfectly fine with stepping back and letting others be the nurse. After all, you've been doing that her whole life. But the instinct to want to take over and be everything to your child is really strong and takes a tough and determined person to be able to stand back. You need to think about that aspect of it and have your arguments well-scripted before you speak to the manager of the ward where you think you want to work. The conversation should happen before you submit any applications so that the manager knows you're serious, that you've considered the issue of working on a ward where your child may be admitted and have developed a game plan for coping. I have first-hand experience with this scenario and I was never even interviewed for any of the two dozen or so positions I applied for on the general peds floors. It was only when I applied to PICU that I got my foot in the door. I wish you luck.