peds or adults.. what is your preference?

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I have to make a decision.. to work in a pediatric OR or an adult. the nurse interviewing me told me that I may be better suited for the peds OR because I am soft-spoken, and because their adult OR has some difficult surgeons to work with which may create a lot of stress for me (the reason i left my former job). From this statement, I am lead to believe that peds OR less stressful? Correct me if this is false, as I can imagine there are cases with infants and newborns that are fast and critical.

Thanks for the input!

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I absolutely, positively, beyond any doubt prefer adults. Peds are scary because they can go bad so fast, and when they go bad they really, really go bad. The two babies who died on the OR table when I used to do peds hearts were the main reason I left nursing altogether for four years. The hospital where I work now only takes patients 14 and over, and I am so thankful for that.

It takes a special breed of OR nurse to work with peds. Maybe you are that breed. I found out the hard way that I'm not. Please take my words in the correct context - this is only my opinion, and what does and does not work for me.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

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Well my opinion is peds IS more intense...it can go either way really fast, from the very beginning of induction to the minute of waking up but I will tell you I love it personally would not ever do adults. I also have to say that I believe some docs just have that bad attitude because we have good ones and we have bad ones as far as their attitude and I have just learned to deal with it my way. Good luck on your decision it was not a hard one for me....peds all the way!!

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thank you for your input! Today, I had a tour of the peds OR unit, and by the end of it.. I was sold! Really kind and patient Nurse manager and Nurse Educator.. The orientation sounds very organized. i was surprised that there are only 5 theatres.. and majority of the cases are quite short

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Anytime!! good luck to you!!

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Specializes in Operating Room (and a bit of med/surg).

We do a small number of peds cases in our mainly adult OR, mostly T&A's, ears (tubes, pinnings), and dental, occasionally a circ or hydrocele/hernia. Our youngest patients are 2 years old. We don't do any sort of big peds cases ever- only ones where they can go home same day.

I do enjoy doing the peds cases- it's sometimes a nice change! But in terms of the sorts of stress that occur in the OR- I'm not sure there's too much of a difference.

If you enjoy working with kids, and think you would be able to work well in high-intensity emergency situations (on occasion), then go for it! But you will get difficult surgeons in both adults and peds. And you learn to deal with them, whether you're soft-spoken or not. In fact- sometimes that helps you. We have one surgeon who is generally miserable to work with, and her favourite scrub nurse is one who is very soft-spoken... :) So it doesn't so much have to do with whether you're soft spoken or not... just whatever fits you best!

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We do a small number of peds cases in our mainly adult OR, mostly T&A's, ears (tubes, pinnings), and dental, occasionally a circ or hydrocele/hernia. Our youngest patients are 2 years old. We don't do any sort of big peds cases ever- only ones where they can go home same day.

I do enjoy doing the peds cases- it's sometimes a nice change! But in terms of the sorts of stress that occur in the OR- I'm not sure there's too much of a difference.

If you enjoy working with kids, and think you would be able to work well in high-intensity emergency situations (on occasion), then go for it! But you will get difficult surgeons in both adults and peds. And you learn to deal with them, whether you're soft-spoken or not. In fact- sometimes that helps you. We have one surgeon who is generally miserable to work with, and her favourite scrub nurse is one who is very soft-spoken... :) So it doesn't so much have to do with whether you're soft spoken or not... just whatever fits you best!

Thank you for your informative response :) I have more hope for being a good OR nurse despite being "quiet and soft-spoken' :p

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Well my opinion is peds IS more intense...it can go either way really fast, from the very beginning of induction to the minute of waking up but I will tell you I love it personally would not ever do adults. I also have to say that I believe some docs just have that bad attitude because we have good ones and we have bad ones as far as their attitude and I have just learned to deal with it my way. Good luck on your decision it was not a hard one for me....peds all the way!!

I too am interested in working in the OR, not sure if adults of peds. What do you think are the qualities you have or other perioperative have or need to succeed in the peds OR?

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I like babies and kids but not in the OR. I prefer adults. We have a main OR that accomodates all services and we do alot of peds cases, big cases. For one, i can't stand those hot ol rooms. Our peds surgeons like the rooms to be 80 freakin degrees for the neonates/infants. I feel sorry for the people scrubbed in cuz you are sweatin the whole case and if you forgot to put on deodorant that day, pepe le pew, no thank you. I also don't care for the high acuity or intense cases, but thats just me. If you like peds, then go for it. We need more peds OR nurses, not too many i know.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

I love working with kids. I'd say your making a good choice. :yelclap:

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