Pediatric surgical unit offer: please pros and cons

[mariah25, BSN]

I have been offered two positions.  One at Seattle Children’s on a surgical unit day shift and an adult CVNS intermediate fellowship night shift at another hospital.  Both interest me in different ways.  I am drawn to the peds position.  What are some pros and cons of working in peds?  I have two years of adult med/surg and psych experience.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

What is your game plan? Work with kids or adults? NP, CRNA or remain at bedside? Other aspirations with nursing? It will be easier to make a decision once you answer those questions 

[mariah25, BSN]

4 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

What is your game plan? Work with kids or adults? NP, CRNA or remain at bedside? Other aspirations with nursing? It will be easier to make a decision once you answer those questions 

CRNA never interested me, nursing is my second career (my first was as a teacher) and I know how hard it can be to get into a CRNA program.  I am going to further my education, either MSN or NP.  I love bedside and teaching, but want something different than my current experience of geriatric psych/behavioral patients.  I have a passion for supporting not just my patients but their families.  

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I would take the peds position. You'd have closer interactions with family

[Ellepile]

Pros of peds:

toddlers sound really cute when they swear at you.

Easier to hold down, lighter to lift

When they feel better, they look and act happy.

Get to play on the job

cons:

Hard to watch kids die

Need to simplify explanations

cant reason with younger patients

having to force kids to do things they are afraid of:  pokes, weird tasting meds, moving after surgery.

parents who don’t help, or don’t listen to you, or who are so overprotective that it’s hard to do the job

I hope this helps.  Been in peds for over 10 years now.  I do like my job but it’s been hard this year.