jenpicuRN

If you want to be there when the babies are born...look into Labor and Delivery. If you want to deal more with the babies then look into Well Baby Nursery. If you want toddlers and up look into a floor at a pediatric hospital or a basic pediatric floor at any hospital. If you are looking to play with the kids and interact with them PICU is not the place. These children are too sick.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My nephew died at 3 weeks old about 4 and half years ago now, and it is still hard to cope with. Every person handles the death of a toddler differently. It's hard as an RN also because taking care of these children, you become very attached to them and their family. I could never imagine losing my own child and I am sorry you had to go through this tragic event.

Our CT surgeons are very anal when it comes to their patients. Unfortunately they do not leave much up to the RN to do whrn it comes to critical elements such as CTs. They come to the unit so often that they fool with patency issues. They like to be very much in control.

Just do what you need to do for your patients and don't let this doctor get to you. who knows, you may become his favorite nurse. don't take anything personally. concentrate on your patients and not the doctor.

At my hospital, only PICU RNs can remove CVLs and ALines. if a kid is on the floor with a CVL we are called to remove it.

As a FT employee we are required to work every other weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun). We only do 12s. And we have to do Fri, Sat, Sun. Can't split it up. That's one thing I hate about nursing....weekends and holidays.

During my orientation to my hospital we took our PALS course. I work for a Children's Hospital. You may want to inquire about PALS during orientation. I don't believe you have to be an RN to take PALS.

At our hospital, RTs are on the pump while the RN treats the patient. The RT can leave unless relieved by another trained RT. The RT has to become certified in ECMO. The perfusionist comes in to set up the pump and then reports off to RT because he has to go back to surgery.