From death row to pediatrics. Say WHAT?

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Pediatrics rotation: Starts Monday, Aug 25.

My goal is to eventually be an RN in a NICU or PICU somewhere, so it's important to me to do well and learn a lot in this peds rotation. I'm a 40 year old male with 2 beautiful grand daughters. I spent about 15 years working as a correctional officer and correctional supervisor on death row and in administrative segregation and gang prevention with the state prison system.

So, your job: convince me that a big old burly dude who spent most of his adult life in a prison environment can be good and safe in a pediatric facility. Hurry, there's not much time!

God...Imagine all the things that can go wrong!

(My grandkids love me and babies smile at me in public, so I'm hoping that's a sign.)

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Specializes in NICU.

We have a couple "big old burly dudes" in our unit and they're great NICU nurses. The parents love 'em too ..... the dads especially seem to really take to them.

Good luck to you! Let us know how it goes ..... I know you'll do great!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

We do too. It's more about attitude than appearance, I think. And there are times when it's a great advantage to have a big burly dude available.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I work Peds, don't see alot of men (wish there was more), but the men we have, the kids love!! I work the floor, and I think the young boys sometimes just like having a guy to relate too. If you go to the PICU, your "big burley" muscles will be put to good use! :D

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Peds is all about understanding the developmental level of your patients and incorporating that into your care. That, plus empathy, understanding, support and teaching, teaching (did I mention teaching) of the parents and family.

Given your background, I suspect that these are some of your strong suits.

You'll do fine.

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Go for it, Bortaz!

As with probably any situation where you'd be a minority, it's possible that someone could judge you prematurely. It's a disadvantage that we face, particularly in peds/NICU/PICU/NBN, but in my experience it's fairly rare.

On the other hand, there are advantages to being a guy in peds:

- Some people say that the doctors will treat you better simply because you're a male. One of our best docs also has the reputation for having a quite short fuse, even related to pretty minor nursing issues. However, he's unfailingly civil to me every time I deal with him.

- You'll get to flex your muscles after performing amazing feats such as opening a jar of formula.

- Some of the most incorrigible kids (neonates who have abdominal surgery, for example) sometimes seem to calm down a little better for dads or male staff members. Then again, at other times... :banghead:

- When we have unruly family members, sometimes they respond more appropriately to men. They may get in the faces of the female nurses, but generally they don't go there with me.

I'm a short guy with a few extra pounds and no muscleman physique, so it's not like these people are afraid of getting busted in the nose or anything. Some folks just treat men differently - and it often works to our advantage.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

were you expecting one of the babies or kids to start crying when they see you? put a big smile on your face when you see them. you have one big plus going for you. . .your physical size gives you an illusion of safety, confidence and power in a child's eyes. use it kindly and wisely. if crying does happen and seems to be a problem ask different staff members for ideas on what you can do--and be open to them. ask one of the pediatricians if you run across one. since this is your chosen field i'd be picking the brains of these people with all my questions of concern every chance i got and never taking a break. and i wouldn't be shy about it either. they aren't supervising you and you aren't likely to be seeing them ever again. even if you do, they'll remember your openness and eagerness to learn.

you might want to read some articles on dealing with ill children and bone up on normal child growth and development behavior. recognize when they are behaving normally and that it isn't you that is the cause of the way they are acting. illness can cause a lot of bizarre behavior, even in kids. have a great rotation and enjoy the kids.

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Pediatrics rotation: Starts Monday, Aug 25.

My goal is to eventually be an RN in a NICU or PICU somewhere, so it's important to me to do well and learn a lot in this peds rotation. I'm a 40 year old male with 2 beautiful grand daughters. I spent about 15 years working as a correctional officer and correctional supervisor on death row and in administrative segregation and gang prevention with the state prison system.

So, your job: convince me that a big old burly dude who spent most of his adult life in a prison environment can be good and safe in a pediatric facility. Hurry, there's not much time!

God...Imagine all the things that can go wrong!

(My grandkids love me and babies smile at me in public, so I'm hoping that's a sign.)

If babies are smiling at you in public I say thats a good sign. Babies don't really see size as they do facial symmetry. I think with parents it can go either way. Some may be hesitant just because your male but others may see your burly size as a defender of their child.

I work for a law enforcement agency and I think you probably picked up some a lot of "what not to say" things based on being a death row guard. You know how just a subtle shift in body language or facial expression can trigger certain people. Unfortunately many people in medicine do not always realize how "readable" they are to people who are high strung and can be set off easily.

I also remember a thing my grandmother says "babies and dogs don't tell lies when it comes to knowing a good person from a bad one, it's adults who can't tell the difference."

Since the babies have already given your their gummy seals of approval I say go for it.

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God...Imagine all the things that can go wrong!

True but imagine all the things that can go right. We had a take your kids to work day at our school several months ago and several little boys wanted to be nurses. All of them had experiences in the hospital where they had a male nurse. Not a single boy mentioned wanting to be an MD although two wanted to be paramedics. Alot of them also mentioned liking the gadgets in the hospitals like electronic bps cuffs, and pulse oximeters. I think it was a walking video game for some of them regardless of the broken limbs or pneumonia or whatever the reasons were for the previous hospitalizations.

They were also all over our one male student and while they were friendly with us females all except the very youngest of boys wanted to be with the guy student more.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

Bortaz - You can imagine all the bad things, but just think about all the good things! You have been in the profession for years providing help to someone who needs it, whether it be physical, emotional, ect. You can do womething for even the meanest or most beligerant. Your job is very demanding, and shows you have a real talent for not giving up on someone.

As far as PI and NI, sometimes parents or other family members can show a side of their personality that is not favorable and require "physical motivation" so to speak, if they have a baby or child that passes away or if the child's condition deteriorates. They may get into the anger stage and take out frustrations in a harmful way. At our facility we have a "code white", whether it be family or staff or something. On our unit, I have had to call it quite a few times, and it stinks hoping an orderly from the ER would show up.

You have been working in a very high stress environment and that shows the intestinal fortitude that you have, and will continue to provide to your patients and families. I'm sure that some of the people you have been working with are "kids" emotionally and that takes a special person!

Good luck to you, and I look forward to your future postings on how you are doing and how much you enjoy it!

Anne, RNC :paw::paw::paw::saint::saint:

Formerly busyrnandmom, now ilovemypuppies

(My grandkids love me and babies smile at me in public, so I'm hoping that's a sign.)

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Thank you all for your encouragement and well-wishes. Tomorrow is the big day, and I'll definitely keep what you all said in the back of my mind.

I'm not intimidated by much, but this does have me feeling a little edgy. I'll let yall know how hit goes!

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Specializes in Peds.

What are you more afraid of, the kids or the other nurses? The kids are usually pretty universal in their acceptance or nonacceptance of their nurse and it has little to do with gender. I have a coworker who is over six feet tall, and about 210. He's an imposing figure until he starts talking to the kids and then his real persona comes through. There are very few people who don't respond favorably to him, kids, parents or staff. And of course the boys love him to death. We like it when he has a few shifts with the more demanding kids, because at the end of his stretch, they're suddenly more reasonable. I like having him around when I've got the big kid with the head injury, purely for his superior upper body strength! But seriously, I think you've got all the right characteristics to be a fabulous peds nurse. Please let us know how your rotation goes. And relax, the nurses don't bite, but the kids might.

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