How do I break into Pediatric Nursing - RN with 1yr exp.

[watersamy]

I'm an RN with a BSN & 1 year of nursing experience. I'm looking to break into pediatric nursing. I've been applying to absolutely every pedi or infant care job I can find in my area and then some. Haven't had one stitch of luck. I'm both PALS and NRP certified. My problem is that a lot of job openings require 1 year of pedi experience. Should I still be applying to these postings or don't I have a shot in &^%*. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[amygarside]

Just apply, you can't have any experience in pediatric nursing if they won't give you a chance to earn it. There are some hospitals that accepts even without experience

[typoagain]

it would help to know just where you are working right now.

The pedi world in some hospitals is a feast or famine place. Dead slow in the summer and as busy as all get out in the winter. This can be used to you advantage. Talk to your staffing officer and express and interest in cross-training and floating to pedi and/or nursery during the winter. Offer to be available on an on-call basis on certain nights during the busy season.

If you can only work days and/or Monday thru Thursday . . . might I suggest long term care...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

You could try to pick up some per diem shifts with a private duty agency. The majority of those patients tend to be children with very complex medical needs. Most of them will get their care at your local pediatric hospital and if the hospital is familiar with the agency, they will be more likely to call you for an interview if they see the experience on your resume.

[llg, PhD, RN]

How much experience with (other people's) children do you have? If you don't have much, I would suggest getting some. Volunteer at church ... at your child's school ... at a children's hospital, etc. Maybe get a part time job at a youth center, summer camp, or after school program. It's not as good as "nursing experience," but at least it would show that you can work well with children, particulary if you can eventually get a job recommendation from your supervisor there.