PickyouRN

I agree that it does depend on the facility. Most hospitals I find are very receptive to new nurses, in any unit!, and are more than willing to whip you into shape I started in the PICU as a new grad and loved every minute of it. Besides the training that you recieve on the unit, it was a lot of "self studying" that I had to do on my own time. Now, I have moved on to Peds ED. I agree with what was previously said, don't commit to just one thing yet. There are so many things that you can do, and if you keep your options open, you might just fall in love with something else? :redbeathe However, it is a great idea to get into the Peds ED for your practicum to get your feet wet. Ask alot of questions, be open minded, take in everything you see! You'll do great! Good luck new grad!

Well, mutlitasker I am, so that makes me feel very confident making the switch. There have been some occasions that I feel like the things that I am seeing in the PICU are becoming redundant and at times, Im bored, more so now than ever. However, my concern is that I will miss being so deeply invovled with my kids and their families. Im worried that I will miss the rapport and trust that is built. Also, Im fearful that I may lose some of the critical thinking skills that come with PICU nursing. For instance, having to think things through on many levels so you now how and when to make changes for your patient. A good friend of mine works both Peds ED and PICU, and I have voiced all my concerns to her, and she thinks Ill thrive and love it... but it's always nice to hear it from someone who isn't my friend, and may or may not be telling me what I want to hear! lol

Thanks for the feedback, I will definitley look into the triage grading. Good point!

Hello, I am currently working (and loving!) in the PICU @ a level 1 trauma center. I have been a PICU RN for about 1 1/2 yrs. And, although I love it, I am still exploring the different areas of pediatric nursing. With that said, I will be transitioning from the PICU to the Peds ED @ the end of this month. I was curious if anyone has any feedback on some ways to prepare for the change? Perhaps any comparisons of the 2 different units? I would love to hear from both sides! Peds ED nursing vs. PICU nursing...