Boston2LA_RN

Thank you all for your advice! I didn't realize I had gotten any response until now. Things are getting better and my patients seem to like me. I found out when I started that my floor is actually primarily women's med-surg with a small pediatric section, which i like a lot. I was always a serious kid who didn't get to do a lot of kid stuff growing up due to family situation, so it is hard to relate to kids still, but I am improving. And who knows, maybe they will turn me into the kid I never really was! :)

Like most new grads in this market, I had to take the first job that was offered to me whether it was a specialty I wanted or not. I actually interviewed for a general med-surg new grad position, but one of managers on the panel interview was the pediatrics nurse manager. She decided she wanted me on her floor, and that is where I got an offer! I am excited to work with children. I really love children. But my experience with them is limited, and I honestly mostly feel nervous and awkward when I am around them. Babies are fine (I've always liked L&D and post partem), but I don't get little kids! I worked on an adult medical floor as a CNA during nursing school, so I always felt I had an extra leg up in terms of feeling comfortable with my patients compared to other new grads, but now I am back at square one! Does anyone have some advice for a new grad pediatric nurse? Any ideas on just how to plain old talk to kids? Ideas for good books/reading before I start my position? I truly am excited to start in this field even though it isn't my first choice, so any help would be appreciated. Also, if after a year I decide I want to move into a different area of nursing, where would people recommend I set my sights? I've always been interested in oncology. Will my peds oncology experience translate to adult oncology? I also have interests in maternity and NICU. And adult critical care too!