M/S --> PICU/NICU

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Hello! I'm a fairly new grad with 3 job offers. One is M/S in an all pediatric hospital (where I've wanted to work for a very long time). The other is in the PICU and another in the special care nursing. The PICU and nursery nurse jobs are both at a smaller hospital/medical center.

In the ideal world I'd be offered a PICU/NICU position in the pediatric hospital, but that's not the case. I'm leaning towards accepting the med/surg position in the pediatric hospital and trying to eventually move internally into the NICU or PICU.

My question is about feasibility. Is it difficult to transition into ICU nursing from M/S (in peds)?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Not only is it feasible, but it's also highly possible! Good peds nurses are always welcome in the PICU. I think it's easier for a peds MS nurse to transition to PICU than for an adult ICU nurse. The piece about family-centered care is a struggle for many who come to us from the adult world. And then there's med administration. When you're already comfortable with peds dosing, there's much less of a learning curve. Follow your heart.

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Thanks, janfrn, for the reply. I will follow my heart and go for the MS position in the peds hospital. Thanks, again!

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
Not only is it feasible, but it's also highly possible! Good peds nurses are always welcome in the PICU. I think it's easier for a peds MS nurse to transition to PICU than for an adult ICU nurse. The piece about family-centered care is a struggle for many who come to us from the adult world. And then there's med administration. When you're already comfortable with peds dosing, there's much less of a learning curve. Follow your heart.

I was an MICU nurse and made the transition to PICU and I agree with Jan. Its better to start in acute care Peds (like hem/onc, burn unit, infectious diseases) than in adult ICU to make the transition.You do so much more teaching in the PICU, in general, than in an adult ICU. You also have to get used to everything based on weight. It is possible to do, I was a pretty good PICU nurse in my day, despite being an old dog learning new tricks at a time when many nurses are getting ready to hang up their caps.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

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