Peds vs Med Surg Externship

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Hi! I am a rising senior in nursing school. I have two offers for nurse externships at Cleveland Clinic (adult ICU stepdown) or the PICU at Childrens of Atlanta. My long term goal is to work in Peds somewhere... Im wondering how much MORE valuable it is to take the Peds one versus the Med Surg one.

I am from the Chicago area so Cleveland clinic is much closer, also pays a bit better, and has the "brand name" of Cleveland clinic (is that important?)

Versus Childrens of Atlanta is smaller, father away, slightly lower pay.... but also is directly into the ICU! and Peds!

Im really passionate about Peds and I really want a job directly into Peds when I graduate. Does anyone have experience getting directly hired into Peds if they had an adult externship? Should I just suffer with lower pay but get a leg up doing peds ICU? I need some non-biased advice from experienced new nurses or students. THANK YOU!

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If it were me and I wanted to work with Peds after graduation, I would chose the PICU opportunity. Externships by nature are short and the experience is the value here not the $$.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

If you are passionate about pediatrics, TAKE THE PEDS JOB! 100%. :) It's hard to get into your specialty of choice. PICU experience will set you up for anything you want to do in pediatrics in the future. Good luck!

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If you want Peds when you graduate.... Take Peds! Pediatrics is a very competitive area. Make yourself competitive with experience :)

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I agree in the big picture for sure but Cleveland clinic is more "realistic" (significantly higher pay and closer to home and cheaper housing) I'd be still willing to go for the Peds one if you think it would really make a difference in getting hired post grad. How common is it to get hired by Peds without experience besides clinical? And how good does adult look instead?

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Specializes in SRNA.

Coming from a GA resident, an externship at CHOA is nothing to shake a stick at... Especially the PICU.

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I agree in the big picture for sure but Cleveland clinic is more "realistic" (significantly higher pay and closer to home and cheaper housing) I'd be still willing to go for the Peds one if you think it would really make a difference in getting hired post grad. How common is it to get hired by Peds without experience besides clinical? And how good does adult look instead?

How common is it to get hired by Peds with no experience?

Honestly it depends on how competitive the job market is, your connections, if you work as a CNA/PCT in Peds currently, and a whole lot of luck. So I would say it's relatively uncommon. Not impossible, but definitely not common. If you're willing to move anywhere in the country, it would be probably easier.

How good does adult look instead?

I would say not really great. Peds is very different from adults. If I was hiring a new grad in Peds I would want one who had a Peds externship over an Adult externship.

Overall, it just depends. Would you be willing to work with adults for a few years until you could get in Peds? If so, maybe take the offer closer to home. Or are you burning to start in Peds? Then I would take the Peds externship.

I'm located around Chicagoland. It's a competitive job market. So what you can to make yourself stand out :)

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Specializes in NICU.
Coming from a GA resident, an externship at CHOA is nothing to shake a stick at... Especially the PICU.

^^ THIS^^

It is one of the top Children's Hospitals in the country. If you want Peds., then Atlanta would be a good place to learn.

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Specializes in NICU.
I agree in the big picture for sure but Cleveland clinic is more "realistic" (significantly higher pay and closer to home and cheaper housing) I'd be still willing to go for the Peds one if you think it would really make a difference in getting hired post grad. How common is it to get hired by Peds without experience besides clinical? And how good does adult look instead?

Almost all of the new grads that we have hired had their externship on our unit during their senior year. A few of us had an externship at another NICU (mine at Riley Children's in Indy and the other at Duke). Having an externship in PICU, especially if you want a job at CHOA, will not guarantee a job, but will look very good on a resume.

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I eventually want to work at Boston Childrens (one of the best in the country) (does anyone know much about boston childrens?) so if that helps me get to my goal then I just might :)

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Specializes in CVICU.

If you want to work peds, take the PICU externship. Externships are most valuable for the experience and for your resume. They usually aren't longterm so although the travel time should factor in, it shouldn't be your primary concern. I would take the PICU externship.

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Coming from a GA resident, an externship at CHOA is nothing to shake a stick at... Especially the PICU.

Could you clarify what you mean by this in your experience?

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