nursing home for kids

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Hi all,

I'm a new grad (Jan '08-took nclex/got my license in april).

I got a call back/preliminary job offer from a pediatric center and also interviewed with a large teaching hospital in the city...

My dilemma, if it can be called that :) is:

Will starting out at a nursing home type facility for kids (acuity of illness varies-most are not ambulatory, there is a neuro/autism unit), hurt me much if I wanted to pursue more diverse hospital work in the long run???

I liked the hospital I interviewed at and their med/surg unit, but the day hours and sensibility of the peds center also appeal to me (tho I have not visited the actual facility yet). So.... I'm a bit conflicted about which I'd choose assuming I will have the choice!

-thanks in advance for any advice/comments!!

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Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.

Go to the peds facility first. You may not want to get into this. I have worked in extended care for children. Most were severely brain damaged and required so much full-time care that families couldn't do it at home. Remember most sick kids or ones that need rehab have families to take care of them. Kids with autism who are at all functional go to schools. This can be a very demanding job, physically and emotionally. Burn out rate is high. Visit before making a decision.

With the nursing shortage as it is, if you are an RN you can get a med-surg job pretty much anytime, even after years out of the field. Make your primary concern the jb that fits you best now. :up:

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Thanks thornbird-I didn't consider that in many cases sick kids are at home, taken care of by family, and those requiring the really extensive care are in LTC facilities.

There is some rehab there but your reply really made me think about what I would be dealing with.

I'm visiting the peds place tomorrow. Hopefully I will hear from the hospital soon.

Thanks!

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I am in aw of anyone who can work in this type of facility. Your are truely angels helping those that need it most. :bow:There in a ped.LTC facility where I live and have volunteered for them. It surely warms your heart and brakes it at the same time.

Especially the child abuse cases where they were born perfect and someone lost their temper and litterally beat the life out of them.

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