Acute Rehab preceptorship? please help

Specialties Pediatric

Published

I need to make a decision today. I want to work in Pediatrics or L&D. I got offered an acute rehab peds spot in a smaller rehab hospital. Since this is peds, it may be beneficial to me when I want to apply for a peds position somewhere later on. But the rehab part is why I am hesitant. I want to work in a hospital setting dealing with acute care, not rehab. Would I still get the skills I need at a acute rehab facility? I'm not sure what to do.

0 Votes
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

What are your other options at this time? If you reject this preceptorship, you might be throwing away the chance at a good learning opportunity, networking possibilities, and a possible job after you graduate.

I work at an acute rehab hospital for adults. We do peripheral IV starts, vital sign checks, IV meds, blood draws, wound care, continuous positive motion (CPM), range-of-motion exercises, administration of blood products, respiratory therapy, cardiopulmonary rescuscitation (CPR), ostomy care, medication administration, tube feedings, removal of sutures and surgical staples, the occasional NG tube drop, and so much more. We also help patients ambulate, provide education, demonstrate the use of adaptive equipment, and basically help the patient get reconditioned enough to go home.

0 Votes

I'm just hesitant because it is in a different city, probably night shift and I want to get practice with clinical skills. But I also want to have experience in pediatrics. At this point, my other option would be med/surg. I believe the acute rehab hospital specializes in brain & spinal cord injuries and I would probably get the opportunity to perform the skills you listed. I think I may go for it. Thanks for the reply!

What are your other options at this time? If you reject this preceptorship, you might be throwing away the chance at a good learning opportunity, networking possibilities, and a possible job after you graduate.

I work at an acute rehab hospital for adults. We do peripheral IV starts, vital sign checks, IV meds, blood draws, wound care, continuous positive motion (CPM), range-of-motion exercises, administration of blood products, respiratory therapy, cardiopulmonary rescuscitation (CPR), ostomy care, medication administration, tube feedings, removal of sutures and surgical staples, the occasional NG tube drop, and so much more. We also help patients ambulate, provide education, demonstrate the use of adaptive equipment, and basically help the patient get reconditioned enough to go home.

0 Votes

I need to make a decision today. I want to work in Pediatrics when I graduate. I'm currently in my preceptorship semester. I got offered an acute rehab peds precept in a small rehab hospital which specializes in brain and spinal cord injury. Since this is peds, it may be beneficial to me when I want to apply for a peds position somewhere later on. But the rehab part is why I am hesitant... Would I still get the skills I need at an acute rehab hospital, especially if I get night shift? It's either this spot or Med/Surg. I'm not sure what to do.. Any help is appreciated!

0 Votes

If you don't take this job, it may be a while before you find another one. It is hard for new grads nowadays. Since it does involve pediatric patients, it will only help when you want to apply to a different pediatric position. Good luck!

0 Votes
Specializes in Pedi.

If it were me, I'd take the peds rehab position simply because I'd much rather work with kids in any environment than adults. I've known people who've successfully transitioned from both peds rehab and med surg to acute care peds.

0 Votes
Specializes in FNP.

I think it would be a great place to start! As a new grad on a rehab unit (adults mostly), I had time to develop critical thinking, assessment skills, patient interaction skills, had a focus on patient and family education, learned about teamwork, delegation, interdisciplinary roles, how to take physician orders, about documentation, etc... the patients are ill enough to require 24 hour nursing care and close medical supervision, it's a requirement to be there... They have IVs and central lines, tube feedings, bowel bladder problems, incisions and wounds, dressing changes, etc. Ask for a shift to shadow if you're hesitating, but please do consider rehab... we get a bad rap sometimes, but it's a good place to be if you can find the right fit!

0 Votes
Specializes in peds palliative care and hospice.

JUST because you are not working at an acute care hospital DOES NOT mean you will not "learn"...

I worked at a pediatric rehab hospital and I did different things than acute care...but I wouldn't assign it as a lower value to my coworkers who also worked at an acute care peds hospital... We did piccs, ports, IV abx, caths, PIVs, shunts, trachs, g tubes, NG tubes, vents, NICU graduate care, wound care and teaching parents to take care of their kiddo, many of whom have never been home (for long) and/or with new equipment and diagnoses (trachs, vents, gt, seizure disorders, ect)

I have worked in several similar settings and I will say that peds rehab is hard if you are not kuku for cocoa puffs over children and peds. Just my experience...

On a side note, I would take my kiddos with brain injuries over A&O adults ANY DAY (and I know several peds nurses who feel the same way!)

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment