Is this specialty flooded in your area?

[mmcc26]

Hi everyone! I realize that this would definitely depend on area, but I wanted to know directly from people who work in the field, is this department really saturated?

I ask because in my nursing program, every girl except for 3 of us, has her sights set on Peds... Myself included. If this many people have intentions on specializing in this area, it makes me wonder if the field is packed.

Is this true in your area?

Thanks!

[Maladroit, BSN, RN]

I'm a Peds nurse in Iowa and we have a shortage here! On my unit alone, we have 7 lines open for nurses...5 for New Grads. I'm a new grad, with 4 other new grads starting on my unit recently, too. Not flooded and I'd encourage you to apply! You'd need to stick to applying at major teaching hospitals because the smaller ones won't look at you without at least 2 years experience, but a couple are willing and happy to train you! We are really short staffed after coming off of a 3 year hiring freeze.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The vast majority of students who enter school thinking they want to be peds nurses won't be peds nurses. Many of them will change their minds as soon as they set foot on a pediatric floor. There are far more adult nurses than peds nurses out there.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Many nurses want peds because the love children....pediatric nursing is so far from that....addicted babies, children with cancer...children of abuse...the parents are extremely challenging. Doing procedures on a screaming child....is not for the faint of heart.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Our peds hospital (40 general peds beds, 15 PICU beds, separate peds ED - all sub-specialties except major trauma) has exactly two vacant positions - both in PICU, both require three years of experience.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

As mentioned before Peds is not for everyone. Many days it breaks your heart. Not to mention more often than not the parents can drive you nuts! I enjoy it to a point, but would love to go back to school for more education and try something new.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I started out in PEDs 5 years ago as a new grad and honestly had no interest or intention on going into PEDs when I started nursing school. I had no problem finding a position in PEDs at a major children's hospital. However, since then the economy has suffered and I see less new grads being hired into PEDs. Apply for jobs as a tech or nurse intern in PEDs, let your peds instructor know you have an interest and see if you can shadow on other peds units. However, do not limit yourself to applying only for peds jobs, be willing to do adults if that is the only position offered.

[dansamy]

Most nursing students who start school saying they want to do peds change their mind after their peds rotation.

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

Most nursing students who start school saying they want to do peds change their mind after their peds rotation.

Completely agree... I think there is a fairy tale that it is all bubbles and sweet toddlers and laughs and smiles. It's not. And I think it's a rude awakening for a lot of people once they realize that acute care pediatrics is no joke.

[dansamy]

Completely agree... I think there is a fairy tale that it is all bubbles and sweet toddlers and laughs and smiles. It's not. And I think it's a rude awakening for a lot of people once they realize that acute care pediatrics is no joke.

Too right! Love my peds, but it's no picnic. And our peds unit is basic, routine peds med/surg.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

[wooh, BSN, RN]

The reality will chase most off, possibly even you. Often once people realize instead of playing with toddlers, you're making them scream... instead of changing baby diapers you're changing the diapers of 150 pound 20 year-olds with CP... instead of talking to 5 year-olds you're talking to the moms of 5 year-olds who are refusing albuterol for their child that's looking at being intubated for asthma because Google says albuterol causes cancer... instead of saving children's lives you're instead "saving" their lives so they now have a lifetime of being trapped in a constantly seizing contracted body full of pain instead of toys...

And then there's the fact that even those that WANT their "dream job" won't necessarily get it...

[smurfynursey]

I am in New England and peds is an area with a lot of compitition.

Just a friendly reminder tho, you DO NOT have to work in a hospital to be a peds nurse! I've been a peds nurse for almost 5 years and I only worked in a hospital for 6 months (and that was enough!) Give me home care and hospice kiddos any day!