Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Finding it impossible to get into peds.

I graduated in Dec. 2011 from a second degree BSN program. I have been trying ever since then to get a job in peds. I have tried everything inpatient, outpatient, offices, clinics, psych, local, and out of state. But no one will give me a chance. I can't even get an interview. I am wondering if it is because I am a 39 y.o. guy. There are girls from my program that got jobs right away. They are much younger, went to nursing school straight from their first degrees, and many have no previous work experience. I don't know what else to do. I went to nursing school specifically to do peds. But it is looking like it I want a job I am going to have to do adults. I don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    Take a job working with adults. You can't afford to wait forever. While you are honing your general nursing skills and earning money ... do some volunteer work with children. Perhaps you can volunteer in a children's hospital or in a school, etc. After a year or two, you won't just be a "new grad." You'll be an experienced nurse with experience working with children.

    If there are nursing organiations or charitable organizations that focus on children's well-being, join one of them. It could be a way to meet people who work in the field of children's health. Such contacts could lead you to a peds job someday.

    Good luck!

  • Quote

    I agree with the above poster. If the only nursing job you can get is with adults, take it. You won't have to stay there forever.

    Pediatric jobs have always been hard to come by simply because there are fewer of them. My city alone has ONE pediatric hospital with a few general pediatric floors scattered at some of the bigger adult hospitals. The pediatric hospital has just under 400 beds while the biggest adult hospitals have between 415-nearly 1100. There are 5 university affiliated adult teaching hospitals in the city as well as several community or non-academic ones... the smallest of the adult hospitals is still bigger than the lone pediatric hospital. There isn't nearly as much demand for pediatric nurses- especially since it's rare for someone to leave peds for adults.

    Perhaps you can get a per diem job doing pediatric private duty (once you've had a little professional nursing experience), try substitute school nursing or work at a camp or something over the summer that will give you experience with children.

  • Quote

    you can try pediatric home health

  • Quote

    I agree, try pediatric home health and also volunteering with kids. I worked as a camp nurse this summer (plus I have 2 kids of my own) and I think this definitely helped me in my interview for a NICU position that floats to peds. Good luck!

  • Quote
    • Author

    I just got a job at a peds office! It's seems like I won't be using a lot of my RN skills (like assessing, teaching, planning). But hopefully this will be a good start.

  • Quote

    I also have always wanted peds nursing..I am hoping for an interview for a school nurse job PT, I am going back to school to get my BSN this Oct, so it would be perfect! I hope I dont have to go back to the nursing home to work. I am figuring that what I want is some type of community nursing, that includes children, that would be great I think for me!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.