PICU Nursing: How long would you....

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How long would you suggest waiting before making the big switch to PICU nursing? I currently work in an adult ICU, and have been there for six months. It is my first job as a nurse. I love my job and am so grateful for it, but would love to eventually make my way into a children's ICU. I feel that that is where I would ultimately like to be. I feel I have so much to learn where I'm at, but it's easy for me to wish for the days when I will be in a pediatric setting and was wondering how long y'all would suggest someone is a nurse before moving into such an acute setting with such critical children.

Also, do you have any advice for a nurse aspiring to someday move into pediatric critical care? What is one thing you wish you had known?

Specializes in NICU.
There are only a small number of typical patient problems seen in NICUs. Their patients are all very small, their focus is much narrower and they're even more OCD than most ICU nurses.

:roflmao::yes::up:

In addition, PICU includes teenagers which can be as big or bigger than adults.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
I read somewhere that "there is more physiological difference between a 25 weeker and a full term baby than there is between a 3-year-old and an adult." I believe it.

NICU nurses are preemie experts and can also take care of full term infants having problems with the transition to extra-uterine life. But they are not experts in the care of older babies/children. PICU nurses are experts in the care of children (including full term babies with problems not directly related to transition).

Also, the historical development of NICU's and PICU's are totally different -- with PICU's following more or less the same pathways as adult ICU's and NICU's being different. (NICU's were established by nurses over 100 years ago to provide nursing care back in the days when doctors had little to offer preemies. They were nursing focused. Doctors were not even allowed to enter some NICUs. Parents weren't either.)

I agree with the posters above.

llg -- old, former NICU nurse with a special interest in nursing history and culture

Love the nursing history you gave here and quite understandable how these specialties evolved.

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Specializes in NICU.
llg -- old, former NICU nurse with a special interest in nursing history and culture

Not to hijack the thread, but this is my favorite NICU history story.

How a Coney Island sideshow advanced medicine for premature babies | PBS NewsHour

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Critical Care.

PICU and adult ICU are totally different beasts and apart from developing more critical thinking skills, time management, and becoming a bit more familiar with common medications, I don't think adult ICU is going to do much to prepare you for the PICU. If PICU is your passion, make the switch as soon as possible. I'd wait a year because I think leaving your first job before a year looks bad, but that's just me.

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I am a PICU nurse in a urban low income hospital. It is a small unit. Not a children's specific hospital. I never did adult . I went from pediatrics to PICU. Although , I regret having no adult experience to "widen my horizons", you do not need it if you are going into pediatrics. That is an old wives tale if you ask me.

Pediatrics is a specialized area. Everything is weight based and they usually do not have the same comorbities as adults. My suggestion is apply for a job, hopefully a full orientation would include working on a regular pediatric floor first so you can see what a sick child looks like and see the signs/symptoms that calls for an ICU. That maybe they need more support than a general peds floor.

We do take the occasional MICU or SICU (mostly SICU pts 15-24) pt when there is overflow so that may work to your advantage.

Basically my answer to you its great to have the vent experience, critical thinking, but PICU is a whole different world so I encourage you to apply... You could take a PALS class if you are trying to be proactive.

As far as NICU nurses they are their own specialty and I do not find anything wrong with having OCD when working with premies.

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