How often do you see New grad hired straight into Peds??

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Hello everyone! I am a nursing student with one more semester to go. YAY! :w00t:I will be done in May. I would love love love to go into Pediatric nursing after graduation. I was wondering if it is possible to be hired into pediatrics as a new grad?? I am crossing my fingers that I get to do my preceptorship at the Children's Hospital. Would this give me an edge when looking for a job in Peds?? How often do you see new grads hired into peds? I appreciate your input, THANKS!!

Erika Ann

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
As an aside, peds usually pays less than other specialties. Be prepared for this possibility.

Does you hospital have different pay scales for different nursing units? I experienced that as a relatively new nurse (20 years ago), but thought that practice went out with the dinosaurs!

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I work in a children's hospital, and the pay is up to five dollars an hour lower than other (adult) hospitals in my area. I have heard that this is true in many markets. I have no experience with pediatric units contained within adult hospitals as there are none to speak of in my area.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I work in a children's hospital, and the pay is up to five dollars an hour lower than other (adult) hospitals in my area. I have heard that this is true in many markets. I have no experience with pediatric units contained within adult hospitals as there are none to speak of in my area.

Gotcha!

It has also been my experience that children's hospitals pay less than nearby "general" hospitals.

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I graduated in December with my ADN. Took boards in January and I am working on Pediatrics - fresh out of school. I love it. I get along great with the other staff. So far, so good. Gotta watch the kids though. Things can happen FAST!! You have to know your stuff.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I work in a children's hospital, and the pay is up to five dollars an hour lower than other (adult) hospitals in my area. I have heard that this is true in many markets. I have no experience with pediatric units contained within adult hospitals as there are none to speak of in my area.

I concur with this.

Also, to the OP, I went into peds as a new grad and don't regret it one bit!! The floor I work on is basically a pediatric med-surg (more med than surg) floor, just to give you an idea of my perspective.. 4-6 patients apiece. Make sure anywhere you apply has a good preceptorship and education/orientation program; that makes a lot of difference especially since we get so little exposure to peds in nursing school.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, L&D, Postpartum.

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all of your responses and encouragement! I am happy to know that it is possible to get a job in peds as a new grad. Right now I am just trying to finish school! This last semester is so tough! But I will hang in there! I will definitely keep you guys posted about that preceptorship, I won't find out until about April. Well, I should get back to my studying! Thanks! And wish me luck!

Erika Ann

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We hire new grads right out of school into our CVICU. We have a bigtime orientation and new grads always have a buddy nurse next to them with experience for quite sometime. The learning curve is huge and you learn at warp speed. We realize here in Arkansas that pediatric CVICU :redbeathe RN's do not grow on trees.... so we grow our own! :yeah: There should be plenty of opportunity after graduation. Good luck!

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I'm a new grad and was hired by a teaching childrens hospital. The bigger the hospital the more likely it is that they will hire on new grads. It costs a hospital alot of money to hire and orient new grads..Thats why the smaller the hospital the harder it is to get on to a unit w/o experience. If I were you even if it says experience apply for it anyways. I accepted my position on a hem/onc unit, but then interviewed at another hospital for the NICU for position in which they wanted experience. I was offered the job anyways...So just apply, the worst that can happen is they aren't interested!

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Maybe I'm just lucky because we have a large teaching hospital here, but they offered several new grad positions for Peds so it can definitely be done :)

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One of my nurses this summer was a new grad. Only out 3 months. She was even one of the best and most compassionate nurses I have had.

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i would have hated nursing if i had to do some time in adult med surge. just gross. not my thing... i was hired right into pediatrics at the place that i work it. and most of my classmates were hired in the specialties that they wanted to be in. it really depends on the hospital. in most metropolitan cities, i wouldn't doubt it that they hire new grads because the demand is so high for nurses. I'm in long beach, ca and it seems like we are ALWAYS short of nurses. THank god for peds. I thought I was going to hate working with kids when I was in nursing school, but after that semester was over i realized i loved it!

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.

I hate taking care of adults. I plan on going straight into peds when I graduate (in 5 months!).

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