Pediatrics

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

Hi guys! I have recently had the revelation that I want to go into pediatric nursing when I graduate in May 2009. I have to stay in Maryland as I have the HRSA scholarship, but that's okay. I like the hospitals around here but I have a few questions. What do you guys know about the peds departments in the Baltimore area? I know Mt. Washington and Hopkins are both renowned for their peds departments but what about other hospitals around here? I think peds being more of a specialty will have less openings in general let alone for new grads and I'm more worried about getting a job in a specialty that I want rather than where the job is located. I have not had my peds clinical rotation yet (that's happening this semester starting in September) but I know it will probably be at Mt. Washington or Hopkins.

I am definitely interested in working at Johns Hopkins Hospital Children's Center, however I have no idea what the job market will be there for peds nurses in May. I'm seeing a few job openings here and there and everywhere but don't want to apply now for a position that needs immediate filling when I'm not available for 10 months. For you previous May grads out there, when did they tell you to start applying and how did you follow up with your applications? Any recommendations on what to do if I don't get or can't find a job in peds? I'm trying to get a peds tech position in the ED at GBMC but I'm not sure that's going to pan out and apparently since I'll be an RN next year, some places may not want to train me if I'll be off the market so quickly.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I'm trying to get a peds tech position in the ED at GBMC but I'm not sure that's going to pan out and apparently since I'll be an RN next year, some places may not want to train me if I'll be off the market so quickly.

Not necessarily because it has been my experience that most places are interested in keeping a good employee as they advance their education. I would check into which hospitals offer a new grad orientation program for peds and get their registration dates etc. I think Balto/Washington Medical Center has one. The other thing is to keep an open mind because I know many people that thought for sure they knew which speciality they wanted to work in until they actually spent some time there. Good luck.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Not necessarily because it has been my experience that most places are interested in keeping a good employee as they advance their education. I would check into which hospitals offer a new grad orientation program for peds and get their registration dates etc. I think Balto/Washington Medical Center has one. The other thing is to keep an open mind because I know many people that thought for sure they knew which speciality they wanted to work in until they actually spent some time there. Good luck.

Thanks! I actually got a call and have an interview all lined up for two weeks from now with the director of Peds at GBMC. I will definitely look into the orientation programs and keep my mind open.

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Specializes in Solid Organ Transplant.

Good luck on your Interview Dolce. I don't believe you being an RN so soon will be a problem at GBMC. I currently work there in registration, and am mainly in the ER. Their pediatric department is great. Also, the Peds department contains an ER side and an Inpatient side all in the same large area. So the same Doctors and set of nurses can end up working on both.

I believe they actually need some techs, and several of the staff (Tech & Secretary) are in nursing school.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Good luck on your Interview Dolce. I don't believe you being an RN so soon will be a problem at GBMC. I currently work there in registration, and am mainly in the ER. Their pediatric department is great. Also, the Peds department contains an ER side and an Inpatient side all in the same large area. So the same Doctors and set of nurses can end up working on both.

I believe they actually need some techs, and several of the staff (Tech & Secretary) are in nursing school.

Thanks and I'll cross my fingers that nursing school counts as experience! Before I saw and inquired about this job posting I had no idea that the peds dept included the ER. I knew that peds was in the ER but somehow didn't make the connection lol. It makes sense though because kids are normally healthy.

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