Is this peds experience going to help me at all?

[picurn10]

I started as an LPN at a local specialty hospital for medically complex, more long term kids. We have a broad range of medical issues, but the kids are pretty stable. In fact, if they have anything too serious, we transfer them out. Most of the kids have trachs and GT's, and I often work in the "vent rooms" where all the kids are on vents.

I just took RN boards at the beginning of the month and I've recently oriented to the rehab part of the hospital which is higher acuity, more involved care than the other area of the hospital. This unit is mainly TBI's, spinal cord injuries, and other kids needing physical rehab. But again, its it pretty low acuity.

This has been a great job while finishing nursing school and as a new nurse, but I'm honestly bored with the low acuity and have always, always wanted to do ICU. There are not a lot of opportunities to practice a range of nursing skills: mostly meds pass, pt/family teaching, occasional IV meds or starts, NG placements, or wound care. But more often then not, its pretty basic.

So, my question is, is this experience going to be an asset to me even though its low acuity? I'm almost at 1yr, and about to get PALS certified, so if it is going to be helpful to me, I'll stay around, but if this isn't going to count in my favor I'd rather job hunt while I'm still considered a "new grad", kwim?

I'm really afraid if I stay here too long, I'm going to lose my skills. We have a lots of seasoned nurses who can't even start an IV, aren't up to date on peds stuff, and honestly are scary.

What do you think? Am I going to be considered to have some experience in terms of peds when applying to PICU jobs, or will I be on the same playing field as all new grads? Also, since the bulk of my years was as an LPN, and the two peds hospitals I want only hire RN's, is it going to count?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Your experience with technologically dependent children will be invaluable! So much of the basics of PICU nursing are things you already know... airway management (suctioning, positioning), ventilation (ventilatory modes, O2 delivery, pressures, volumes) and enteral nutrition via tube and the associated assessments are all things that new PICU nurses learn first. Having that piece of the puzzle is huge! The fact that you got all this experience and knowledge as an LPN shouldn't matter. You have it and you don't want to lose it. Go for it, do it now! And let me know what happens.

[picurn10]

Well, I got an interview for monday!!!! The director who called me said that they like to see nurses with peds experience like mine so I guess they do count it afterall! Now I'm going to be a nervous wreck preparing

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Read the stickies! There's some great stuff in them that'll help you rock your interview. Good luck!!

[PICU]

I had peds experience before getting a job in PICU. It does help. Just remember that there're A LOT more to learn. However, peds background comes in handy. You will be able to deal with families well.

Good luck to you! I hope that you will find PICU is a good place to work as much I do!

[picurn10]

So sorry, I forgot to update: I got the job!!!! And they are paying me as a nurse with experience for my time as an LPN! Thanks for all your encouraging words, orientation starts in another week.

[NeoPediRN]

Hey Ems mom, congrats on the new job! Your facility sounds SO similar to mine. I work on the "stepdown unit" and there is a separate rehab unit. Almost every kid is trached/vented, and is medically fragile. We care for a lot of ex preemies with CLD and feeder/grower issues. I would say the kids on my unit are somewhat stable. There's also an observation room for the most acute kids with apnea/brady issues, kids who clamp down or have blue spells, etc. It's a good place to get a foundation for PICU nursing.