Pediatric Home Health as a New Grad?

[WannaBNursey]

I've recently graduated nursing school. I've been working in a hospital and have been offered a full time position there. I've planned on working there, but my heart has been in NICU and L&D. I recently saw an opening for pediatric home care in my area, which is very difficult to come by, honestly anything other than geriatric healthcare is difficult to come by! Being that my ultimate goal is to work in a NICU, I was wondering if working in Pediatric Home Care would prove to be valuable experience for that.

I was wondering if anybody thought it would be possible to work as a new grad in pediatric home health PRN and at the hospital full time (possibly hospital PRN). Am I setting myself up for failure and trying to do too much at once? Has anybody else worked at a hospital full time and in pediatric home care PRN? If so, can you tell me what your schedule is like? Thank you!

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

Yes! Hospital will give you a foundation and pedi home health will expose you to vent/trach/other critical care skills (albeit with much less acuteness and more stability).

I would go a step further and pay out of pocket for a neonatal resuscitation course as well. Sounds like it would be a great background for NICU, especially if you could get infant pedi home health patients.

Thank you so much for the advice! And I think I could get my hospital to pay for PALS and NRP. Thank you again!

[Ultraposh]

My first job was a pedi case he had a gtube and a trach and nebulizer treatments. It can be done as a new grad. I didnt go through an agency either, i got my npi and medicaid #. It really depends on what the parents think not what someone else thinks regarding whether you can handle it. IYes scary but the parents were very supportive and I adjusted fast. I would not ever give up a hospital position for a home case. Although it pays more the hospital experience will get you further in your career. I actually think any hospital experience is more helpful for a future in NICU than a home case even if it is pedi. The benefits from working in a hospital including continuing education reimbursement is invaluable. Anyone disagree? Above all I would say follow your heart but also think about your future goals and what will be best for that goal. I wish you great success!

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

My first job was a pedi case he had a gtube and a trach and nebulizer treatments. It can be done as a new grad. I didnt go through an agency either, i got my npi and medicaid #. It really depends on what the parents think not what someone else thinks regarding whether you can handle it. IYes scary but the parents were very supportive and I adjusted fast. I would not ever give up a hospital position for a home case. Although it pays more the hospital experience will get you further in your career. I actually think any hospital experience is more helpful for a future in NICU than a home case even if it is pedi. The benefits from working in a hospital including continuing education reimbursement is invaluable. Anyone disagree? Above all I would say follow your heart but also think about your future goals and what will be best for that goal. I wish you great success!

Thank you! I have started at a hospital and am working through my preceptorship there. There's no pediatric, NICU, or L&D unit at any of the local sister hospitals, which sucks, but I'm enjoying med-surg so far and am still thinking of taking on some home care after I get comfy in my hospital job. Thank you for your advice!

[Ultraposh]

Youve made a wise decision! Coodozz

[lesliew575]

Hi,

I am a new grad and am in pediatric home health. After graduating it took almost a year to get that job so like a previous post I read it was born out of necessity not a burning desire to do pediatrics or home care. However, now that I have been doing it for a few months I know I'm going to stay in pediatrics and home care seems to be a good fit for me so far. I understand what several of the other posts are talking about in terms of getting experience, however I do not have any hospital opportunities available to me right now. What I am interested in, since I'm in pediatric home health is resources to help me. Other nurses that are willing to share information and or written resources that are geared to home care. Thanks!

[lesliew575]

Hi,

Pediatric home care is the first job I have been able to get too. I wasn't sure about it at first but I needed to get started somewhere and after a few months I feel like it was meant to be. I never wanted to do pediatrics, now I can't imagine not doing it. I do a lot of research too and the company I work for is very supportive and doesn't mind questions but I still wish there were other nurses to talk to. I have a hard time finding things specific to home care. What did you do when you first started. I have a patient with a CVL. G-tube and colostomy bag. Thanks for any advice.