office pedi RN to hospital pedi RN?

[nightingale1128]

Also cross-posted to Pediatrics discussion board...

I have a young RN friend who graduated about a year ago with her BSN, and has since been working as a RN in a pediatric office. She would like more acuity and autonomy, however, and is now looking for work in the hospital setting as a pediatric RN. She has never worked in a hospital setting, though - not since clinicals in nursing school. Is this a feasible career move, and if so, what is the best way for her to go about this? The hospital setting is so different from the clinic setting that it's almost like she would be a new grad, but she is not. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Depending on where she lives, it is definitely feasible. Has she kept in touch with any of her coworkers that work in peds, who would network for her?

A residency program or generous orientation would be appropriate and doable.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Advice? Don't give up an office job to jump into the shark-infested waters of a hospital...

[llg, PhD, RN]

A lot depends on where she lives and the needs of the inpatient peds units in her town. At my hospital (a children's hospital), it would be difficult, but maybe not impossible. At only 1 year away from inpatient practice, she would have a chance on some of the less popular units. The longer she stays in the outpatient world, the tougher it will get.

My recommendation would be an "informational interview" -- a conversation with someone knowledgeable within the hospital of her choice who can give her a sense of the situation there.

One strategy that might be necessary is to get a job on an adult med/surg unit to regain her inpatient skills. Then after a year or so, apply for inpatient peds with the recent inpatient experience + the peds background.