Peds/PICU or ER new grad position

Specialties PICU

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am in nursing school currently and will be finishing up in the spring. I started out working as a CNA in peds/picu at one hospital because I knew I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. Because they would not hire me as a CNA 2 at that job I ended up transferring to a different hospital and have been working in the ER since. I have absolutely loved the ER, I love learning all the different things, trauma, you name it. I know a manager on one of the pediatric floors here who wants me to come work for her now. So here’s my predicament, if I stay working in the ER they will hire me as a new grad and if I go back to peds, they will hire me as a new grad. I absolutely love both and I don’t mind working with adults, but I prefer to work with kids. I already know a lot of the people I would work with if I go to peds from volunteering there for 4+ years in undergrad.

Would it be better to get some ER experience and then transfer to peds or start in peds since that is where my heart is?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Other things to consider:

ER is currently way more flexible with my school schedule and I shouldn’t have a problem staying full time my last semester. Peds likely wouldn’t have the schedule flexibility I need right now.

Because of some JCo things, I’ve currently had to work a LOT of psych ED, which I’m just not a huge fan and I’m not sure how much longer that will last, but I don’t think I can tolerate another 9 months of it.

I like being busy. I like learning new things.

My ER manager has told me they need nurses willing to do Peds ER and once I’m a nurse he’s happy to train me there. Not much room to work there as an NA because they have others who have been there for 30+ years and that’s the only place they will work.

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Specializes in Pediatric BSN, RN.

If you want to do peds start your residency there because you will get the peds education you need. Going from adults to peds is ganna be a huge learning curve. They are two different worlds. It would be better to get the peds training within a residency.

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