Demand for PICU nurses

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Specializes in NICU.

I will be graduating in August with my BSN. During the summer I will be doing my capstone. I am interested in doing the capstone in PICU at the children's hospital. I am concerned because they are currently on a hiring freeze. Is there a demand for PICU nurses or would it be better to do capstone in adult ICU (almost guaranteed job) then transition to PICU later?

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Are you willing to move and relocate if necessary? If so, then I would say do the capstone in PICU. If you are unable to move then you may honestly want to think about an adult ICU

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

From your avatar, I am guessing you MIGHT live in the Indy area. I work at the 'other' chidren's hospital - and would give you this advice.

Think about how many adult critical care beds there are in my hospital system (over 100), how many NICU beds we have (75) and then, how many PICU beds we have (15). This should tell you a little bit about demand for the various specialties.

I think NICU is a good starting place if you eventually want PICU. It's still technically peds, most PICUs are primarily kids under age 5 anyhow. Just my opinion! Good luck

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

There may be a demand for experienced PICU nurses, but with no experience you wouldn't be considered a PICU nurse, you would be considered a new graduate nurse. While there are some PICUs that will hire new graduates, as you noticed, hiring is limited right now. In general, PICU nurses tend to stay in their positions for quite awhile. If your goal is to work in a PICU, doing your capstone in a PICU and building relationships there is definitely the best place to start.

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From your avatar, I am guessing you MIGHT live in the Indy area. I work at the 'other' chidren's hospital - and would give you this advice.

Think about how many adult critical care beds there are in my hospital system (over 100), how many NICU beds we have (75) and then, how many PICU beds we have (15). This should tell you a little bit about demand for the various specialties.

I think NICU is a good starting place if you eventually want PICU. It's still technically peds, most PICUs are primarily kids under age 5 anyhow. Just my opinion! Good luck

This is great information. I'm from this area too and my entire goal for nursing is to eventually end up in PICU. I had to LOL at the "other" children's hospital comment, it does kinda seem like they are the red headded step child. :p

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I just want to say it is possible to be a new grad in the PICU. I am a new grad and was hired as such. My advice is look for new grad residency programs it helps , also you should do the capstone in the PICU if that's where you want to be, this way you can really see what it's like. Some days are great and others not so much. It's all about you and what you can handle. Good luck let me know if I can help.

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Specializes in NICU.
From your avatar, I am guessing you MIGHT live in the Indy area. I work at the 'other' chidren's hospital - and would give you this advice.

Think about how many adult critical care beds there are in my hospital system (over 100), how many NICU beds we have (75) and then, how many PICU beds we have (15). This should tell you a little bit about demand for the various specialties.

I think NICU is a good starting place if you eventually want PICU. It's still technically peds, most PICUs are primarily kids under age 5 anyhow. Just my opinion! Good luck

LOL I would not mind working at the "other" children's hospital even though the benefactor moved to Denver.

I would like to go into NICU, but I thought it would be hard to get into than PICU. I think I will start in Adult ICU and get experience and try to move to NICU or PICU when there is an opening.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

He may PLAY in Denver- but his dedication to the 'red-headed stepchild' hospital has only increased.

LOVE me some #18 with the laser-rocket arm!

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There are some major children's hospitals that still hire new grads and put them through an intensive training period. My hospital is one of them. I was hired into PICU but asked to be transferred to step-down because it was not for me. NICU is harder to get into, and in my area usually NICU nurses come from PICU.

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Specializes in kiddies.

High demand for experienced PICU but you can learn TONS in an adult ICU. I would steer clear of NICU for now.

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