Peds Cardiology/Boston Children's

[tiggerslj9]

Hey guys

I am a nursing student in Ohio with only 1 year left !!! I just finished my pediatric rotation and the congenital heart lecture intrigued me and everything really clicked. In clinical, I had the opportunity to care for 2 cardiology kids. I loved every minute of it!!! I was awesome. Anyway, I really want to specialize in cardiology and the children's hospital in Boston seems to have a very good cardiology department. I am considering applying there (I am also looking into Wisconsin, Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and Cleveland).

Do any of you work at that hospital/unit?? Do you recommend the hospital as a new grad?? Do they hire new grads in the cardiology units?? What is the nurse-patient ratio? Pretty much, I would like to know anything and everything you guys think would be helpful to me making my desicion ... especially since I would be moving half way across the country and away from my family!!

Thanks a bunch.

SLJ

[NRSNFL]

I too would love some information. Currently live in St. Pete Florida and work for All Children's Hospital but once I get my license my husband, daughter and I are moving back "home" to New England. I feel I have more opportunity for me and for my daughter education wise. Florida sucks when it comes to education and do NOT value their teaching system. Please, any info is good info. I'm looking to do PICU or pediatric oncology.

[leslie :-D]

all i know about children's is that they're always hiring; always have open houses. i'm sure you could google their website, with contact info.

leslie

[cityslicker03]

For new grads, the CICU is hard to get into. They only hire new grads in the spring. For example, this spring, they have already hired most of thier new grads already. working at children's as a clinical assistant is helpful

[crazybusyRN]

Hope I'm not getting the thread off topic...

I'm not in Boston, but I do work in a peds cardiology ICU (at a major children's hosp). It's a great specialty! And in many places, there are opportunities for new grads. But be aware, the congenital heart stuff covered in most nsg programs, and seen in most hospitals, is really different from what you see at the handful of big peds cardiology centers. It's a steep learning curve, with very sick kiddos with HLHS, TAPVR, and lots of oddball combo defects. It's an intense ICU environment, and if you love that (like I do) it's a great place to be. Don't know if this is helpful, but I get excited when there's something on these boards about peds card, so I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents!

:wink2:

[NRSNFL]

Hey thanks for the tips! I currently work at a children's hospital here in FL and am doing that to build experience BEFORE I apply to any hospitals up north....just seems like the smart thing to do.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I went to one of the open houses at Children's Boston and think that their cardiovascular program is awesome! They have a "clinical ladder" and train nurses.

Experience seems to be a big plus, they are doing high tech nursing at Children's.