Pediatric Acute Care -- How did you get there?

Zelda, RN · May 13, 2016

Applied for the job. Then when I didn't get it, waited 6 months (while working on a peds psych unit) and applied again.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 13, 2016

I'm on track for hire by working as a tech currently.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · May 13, 2016

Kept applying.

Started out in a LTAC/SNF for 11 months while working per diem peds home health

Then went to a pediatric/medically fragile LTC worked there for 2 yrs

Then hired into peds acute care now in peds ED.

If you can not get hired right away, get experience and keep applying

MomAndSonInMD · May 14, 2016

I'm on track for hire by working as a tech currently.

When people on allnurses say "tech", which tech role are they referring? Our local college has several.

MomAndSonInMD · May 14, 2016

From the suggestions to re-apply, is pediatric acute care a tough unit to get into?

JaxJax5423 · May 14, 2016

just a suggestion. ...not sure where you're located....but many hospitals have med surge units that accept some peds....if you don't get in on peds or if there is no peds hospital in area....work the med surge and volunteer to do peds patients. many med surge nurses hate touching kids. get your peds experience and move on!

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 14, 2016

When people on allnurses say "tech", which tech role are they referring? Our local college has several.

Nurse tech - pretty much the same as CNA but you have to be currently enrolled in a nursing program.

The hospital I am at requires you have completed at least 2 semesters of clinical nursing courses. And your skill set expands as you progress in nursing school.

MomAndSonInMD · May 14, 2016

just a suggestion. ...not sure where you're located....but many hospitals have med surge units that accept some peds....if you don't get in on peds or if there is no peds hospital in area....work the med surge and volunteer to do peds patients. many med surge nurses hate touching kids. get your peds experience and move on!

Great tip. Thank you!

Why would they hate touching kids?

MomAndSonInMD · May 14, 2016

Nurse tech - pretty much the same as CNA but you have to be currently enrolled in a nursing program.
The hospital I am at requires you have completed at least 2 semesters of clinical nursing courses. And your skill set expands as you progress in nursing school.

Oh. I see. Thank you for clarifying.

That is confusing, though, because the nursing programs I'm considering are pretty adamant about students not working.

Zelda, RN · May 14, 2016

Many nursing programs say that. Nursing school is intense. Some people struggle to do work and school... But most people don't have the luxury of not working. I worked PRN as a CNA on a surgical/peds unit (we rarely had peds pts so the units were combined to save money) during school.

Peds is tough to get into in some areas, others no. Most people only do peds because they love it, so they stay at their positions much longer than your average adult med/surg nurse might. My peds job is at a Children's Hospital, so we get very sick kids - our "floor" kids would be PICU kids at many smaller hospitals.

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · May 19, 2016

In my case, during school I knew that the local children's hospital was where I wanted to be after doing my clinical hours there! I kept my grades up, worked hard, and when the time came for our preceptorships - I was awarded one of the two in the hospital. I then spent the entire 80 hours or whatever it was acting like I was on the most important job interview of my life. :) I worked hard, I learned SO MUCH, and when the time came - I connected with the managers of the unit where I had worked and kept in touch.

When I graduated, the unit where I had worked did not have a position available - but they sent my information and good words up to another floor... where I interviewed and was eventually hired. :)

In my area, each floor has an "allotment" for new grads, they can only have so many because they are expensive to train. So you have to dress to impress, so to speak.

Good luck!