pediatric preceptorship

[MachoNurse, BSN, RN]

Greetings,

I've really enjoyed reading the many discussions on allnurses. Thought I'd take the leap and start my own.

I'm currently in nursing school, and need to choose my preceptorship for the spring. I know that I want to work in pediatrics; it's why I entered nursing school. Prior to nursing school, I volunteered in the ED at Oakland Children's Hospital, which I really enjoyed. Before that, I taught fourth and fifth grade and did some after-school stuff with teens. So why am i writing?

I'm looking for some advice on where to do my preceptorship. I'm in my maternity rotation right now, and have enjoyed the few days I've worked in the NICU. Of course I've done my adult med-surg and critical care rotations, which I did not enjoy. I'm wondering how much different pediatric med-surg or ICU will be from adult. We don't do our pediatric rotation until January, and I need to submit my preceptorship request before then.

I'm wondering which pediatric preceptorship (med-surg, NICU, PICU, ED) will provide me with the most experience and opportunity to work in one of the other departments if that's what I end up wanting (or it's all that's available). I know I need to follow my heart on this, but I also want to think pragmatically, especially given the state of our economy and its potential impact on getting a job as a new nurse. Hope that's clear!

Thanks in advance!

Rob

[llg, PhD, RN]

You should probably check out the job prospects for after graduation and take that into consideration.

For example: At my children's hosptial, the PICU, NICU, ED, and OR generally will only hire a new grad if they have some sort of special experience, such as a preceptorship. So if you think that you might like to work in such a unit, doing your preceptorship in one of those areas might give you a real advantage. The general med/surg areas will hire a new grad regardless of where they have done their preceptoship.

[*ac*]

I agree with the above poster. I've been in acute care pediatrics for almost a year. The students who come through doing a practicum on our floor at this time cannot get hired here d/t budget cutbacks on new grads. Students in the PICU or NICU have a much better chance - as these are much higher demand areas; which also require the experience of at least a practicum. In my area most hospitals are advertising for experienced PICU/NICU/peds ED, but not acute care peds (general floor).

I have been floated to NICU and hated it. I've been in the PICU a little and it doesn't appeal to me at all either. I love my general acute care peds. It's hard to know this until you're knee deep in it. I would at least see if you could shadow a day in each unit before you pick your practicum. In this economy it could definitely make the difference in getting a job.