Getting started in Peds

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Hi everyone! I'm still a nursing student, but with the job market being so dismal these days and this field so saturated, I could certainly use all the advice that I can get. How did you go about getting started in Peds? Any tips or wisdom?

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Hello! I'm a new grad who just landed a RN Residency job in a pediatric unit. My advice to you is, if you have a passion, keep working towards it. Don't let words like "bad job market" alter your drive to be where you want to be. Jobs are out there. You may have to relocate, wait a few months for positions to open, or work on a unit then try to transfer. But if your heart lies in a specialty, you will shine in that area, which will make it hard for interviewers to ignore. As a student, I made requests to my clinical instructors to be on pediatric units. Being vocal about wanting to work with peds will lead to more clinical time, which will translate on your resume, which will stand out to employers. When students, friends, and people know you as the person who likes peds, you will become a peds person. Positive thinking, good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Honestly, I applied to a Peds job, and hit hired. It opened doors for me...:yes:

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Hello! I'm a new grad who just landed a RN Residency job in a pediatric unit. My advice to you is if you have a passion, keep working towards it. Don't let words like "bad job market" alter your drive to be where you want to be. Jobs are out there. You may have to relocate, wait a few months for positions to open, or work on a unit then try to transfer. But if your heart lies in a specialty, you will shine in that area, which will make it hard for interviewers to ignore. As a student, I made requests to my clinical instructors to be on pediatric units. Being vocal about wanting to work with peds will lead to more clinical time, which will translate on your resume, which will stand out to employers. When students, friends, and people know you as the person who likes peds, you will become a peds person. Positive thinking, good luck![/quote']

Thanks so much. Good luck to you with your new position! I've heard about requesting Peds during clinicals and networking that way and gaining that extra experience. I will definitely do that. Thank you for your input.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.
Thanks so much. Good luck to you with your new position! I've heard about requesting Peds during clinicals and networking that way and gaining that extra experience. I will definitely do that. Thank you for your input.

Definitely try and get peds for your preceptorship... and then treat it like an 80 hour interview. :) I beat all the odds. I was told that my hospital never hired new grads, never hired new grads outside of their own nursing school, etc. I completed my preceptorship there, and as a result - got a great recommendation for an interview on a different floor. I was hired. :) It can happen. Good luck!

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Specializes in Pedi.

Get experience working with children in any capacity- now. One of the biggest things I had going for me when I was applying for jobs was that every job I'd ever held since I was 14 years old involved working with children. I worked in a pre-school summer school program when I was in high school, substitute taught in college and volunteered at several camp programs for children with various chronic illnesses. If you are able to find a nurse's aide job working in a pediatric hospital or on a pediatric floor or pediatrician's office, do it. Most definitely try to get your preceptorship in peds- that's how I got my first job.

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Definitely try and get peds for your preceptorship... and then treat it like an 80 hour interview. :) I beat all the odds. I was told that my hospital never hired new grads, never hired new grads outside of their own nursing school, etc. I completed my preceptorship there, and as a result - got a great recommendation for an interview on a different floor. I was hired. :) It can happen. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply! It's very reassuring to hear positive stories about new grads being hired. I have a bit of a way to go, but the prospect of finding a job after graduation sounds terrifying so far, so every positive bit of information is both reassuring and encouraging. I appreciate all of the advice!

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I put in time at a LTC job I didn't care for and an adult med surg job that was ok but not what I really wanted to do. Finally have enough seniority to start my job in peds. Started last week!! Sometimes it takes a while but youll get there.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Get experience! Any experience! When I graduated the market was bad, 9 months to get a LTC, did that for almost a year, but that gave me enough experience to get hired into a pediatric LTC work there for 2 years, which gave me enough pediatric experience to get hired into acute care peds. It took me awhile, but I finally made it to my "dream job" Just keep trying, and if you don't get in right away, keep gaining experience

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Get experience! Any experience! When I graduated the market was bad 9 months to get a LTC, did that for almost a year, but that gave me enough experience to get hired into a pediatric LTC work there for 2 years, which gave me enough pediatric experience to get hired into acute care peds. It took me awhile, but I finally made it to my "dream job" Just keep trying, and if you don't get in right away, keep gaining experience[/quote']

Thanks so much! Great advice :)

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