Future Male Nurse!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 18, 2015

Kids really take well to people who relate well to them. I think you've probably got that in spades. Because you're in Canada you will have some pediatric content in your degree program, but we're finding over the last few years that pediatric clinical experience might be very limited (due to a lack of access to clinical opportunities, not a deliberate lack of attention). The very best way to get your foot in the door in any area of nursing is to do your senior practicum/capstone (whatever the school you attend calls it) on that kind of unit - in your case, pediatrics. If you want a lot of interaction with your little patients, critical care (PICU or NICU) won't give you that, but a medicine or surgical floor would. Even a neuro floor would be a good option. So my recommendation is that you start from the beginning telling your profs and clinical instructors that you're really interested in peds and would like as much exposure to it as you can get within your program. That way you're already on their radar when it comes time to plan those senior practica and they can start sending out feelers early. Another thing you could do to make yourself more attractive to a peds floor manager is to volunteer with one of the regional support groups or at one of the many camps for sick children (Camp Trillium is one) that there are in Ontario. Good luck! Peds is the best!!

RescueNinjaKy · Mar 18, 2015

I'm in the us so this might not apply but I would say first you want to do some research on nursing schools. Look at their program and see what the pre requisite are to get in. As nursing school is very competitive, you want to do very well in them. Child psychology might be a fun class for you, it is required in my program, but I don't know if that's the case in Canada. After you get accepted into the nursing program, work hard and study hard. During this you should be getting a clinical rotation in pediatrics. In the United States, we get trained as a nurse and get experience in pediatrics, psychiatric, and obstetrics. Once you graduate and take the licensure exam you can start looking for jobs. The thing is, it might be difficult to get hired into your specialty right away but apply anyways. If you're able to, volunteer or work as a nurses aide in pediatrics while you're in school.

You should still apply to other nursing positions as you can eventually transfer to pediatrics. Good luck!

Imy360 · Oct 15, 2015

Hey, thanks for getting back to me.. quite a bit has changed. I am currently doing some pre req's to get some of my grades up which is looking good (90's) and than I am going to start an RPN program in May or September, the program is at durham college and is 2 years long. I wanted to become an RPN first to get myself use to the hands on experience and face to face skills, from there i plan to apply to UOIT for my RN License which is 3 years long. I know this route is long but i feel when the day comes to me applying for a RN job i will have the upper hand due to my previous RPN experience. P.S I would still love to work in Peds! sounds really fun but upon graduation i am willing to work in any floor i can.

When applying as a RPN or RN do male students have the upper hand in some scenarios?

Since i will soon have some RPN experience under my belt. after all my schooling is done is it easier to get hired as a RN when you have worked as a RPN?

Thanks!

ixchel · Oct 15, 2015

Welcome, Imy360! I love your enthusiasm!