Peds in a community hospital setting

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

I just accepted a pedi position in a small 85 bed community hospital. I'm a recent grad (May '08) with no acute peds experience except for a few months in inpatient pedi psych. Can you tell me about your experience with community hopital peds? How do you like it? What can I expect? What's helpful to know and have as far as resources? PDAs, software, pocket nursing guides? The average nurse-patient ratio is 1:3 and not uncommon to have 1:1 depending on acuity. I've been told the floor is very seasonal and sometimes the unit is closed at which point we're on call or float to maternity/labory and delivery or women's surgical. Biggest thing is GI/dehydration/diabetes and trauma of lesser acuity (level III peds trauma). Winter it's obviously RSV and flu/pneumonia. I'm excited but a little nervous too because after orientation I may be the only nurse on the floor if the census is low.

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