New to peds

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 25, 2008

Welcome to the land of the little people! Hope you're happy here. Check out some of the threads on this forum for some good tips on making the transition, and for resource materials. There are a bunch of great posts that should give you what you're looking for.

PALS is quite different from ACLS and the testing is getting harder and harder all the time. Here are some links that can help you wend your way through:

http://www.picu.med.ualberta.ca/Conference%20presentations/Allan_DeCaen.ppt (This one is a Power Point used in our PALS classes at the hospital where I work; it was created by one of our intensivists.)

http://www.cps.ca/ENGLISH/statements/EP/LifeSupportGuidelines.htm

canuck2texan · Oct 26, 2008

I am just a new grad (May) and have been in a pedi ED department for 5 weeks now. I just finished the PALS course and yes it is alot of material. Really know your drugs (amounts and when to give them), know your alogarythims, and pay attention in class. I read over the material and did every case study. It is well worth taking the class.

Pam

Jen2002 · Nov 7, 2008

Thank you for the resources and tips. I will need them due to lack of available time to study. :nurse:

LovePurple · Nov 8, 2008

Hey! I'm also a newbie! I just accepted a position on a peds floor yesterday! I'm graduating December 21st and we start January 26th! I know I have a lot to learn, and definitely want to take time to read through your forum now that I know where I'm going to be! You'll be hearing more from me, but I just wanted to stop in and Say HELLO!!!! =)

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 8, 2008

Welcome, LovePurple. (I love purple too, have purple streaks in my hair...)

You're going to love peds too. This forum has lots of great discussion and you'll really learn a lot by reading through the topics. And of course, ask questions! We love to help.

Jen2002 · Nov 9, 2008

Hello LovePurple. Congrats on your new job! I guess we will be new together. :yeah: I wonder if Peds will get me closer to the NICU?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 9, 2008

Hello LovePurple. Congrats on your new job! I guess we will be new together. I wonder if Peds will get me closer to the NICU?

Can't hurt!

LovePurple · Nov 9, 2008

Hey! Thanks for the welcome! And yes, purple is my favorite color! LOL

I have a lot of studying to do before I start my new job, mainly to pass my boards of course. But when I do have time to start focusing more on peds, does anyone recommend a book that gives a great overview of knowledge needed for a peds floor! There are so many I could get, but figure it couldn't hurt to ask if there's on in particular that's up to date and very informative

LovePurple · Nov 9, 2008

hello lovepurple. congrats on your new job! i guess we will be new together. i wonder if peds will get me closer to the nicu?

hey, it's funny you say that! i am actually doing my senior precepting in the nicu. i think it might be somewhere i could see myself in the future, so i wanted to get more experience to see if i really like it. i was supposed to start yesterday and today, but with my luck.. my preceptor is sick and didn't work either day. so i'm going to have to wait until friday to start. i'd say everything is just getting experience and growing! my goal is to simply "learn to be a nurse" at first. i know it's going to be so different from school. then depending on how i feel about the units, i'll progress or change from there.

Jen2002 · Nov 9, 2008

I did my internship my senior year in the NICU. I loved it! They actually told me they had a position opening up, but I followed my instructors advice to do 2 years of medsurg before specializing. Well now I seem to be stuck in medsurg with no other experience, no one wants to hire me. I was lucky to be asked for a medsurg/peds unit. I hope it helps me get to the NICU, which is why I went to nursing school.

sbyramRN · Nov 11, 2008

I did my internship my senior year in the NICU. I loved it! They actually told me they had a position opening up, but I followed my instructors advice to do 2 years of medsurg before specializing. Well now I seem to be stuck in medsurg with no other experience, no one wants to hire me. I was lucky to be asked for a medsurg/peds unit. I hope it helps me get to the NICU, which is why I went to nursing school.

I am so sorry you are experiencing that. My Peds instructor told us not to listen to that BS rationale. She said if we wanted to specialize in an area, that is what we should shoot for upon graduation. Good luck to you.

Anyway, I graduate from NS in December, and have been called in for an interview for an internship position in the Pediatric ER. :yeah: I am so excited, and I really hope I get the job!