Published Jun 10, 2015
NerdyRN29
5 Posts
There we some great replies to a variety of posts, but I am wondering if anyone has any additional and specific information.
I am completing my second interview with a Pediatric Home Health Agency next week. It will be an eight hour day of skills check-offs and a 100 question computerized exam. Any helpful tips? I am a new RN, with zero Pediatric experience. I completed an internship in a ICU with all adult surgical patients.
HELP! What check-offs should I expect (IV, dressing changes, trachs, g-tubes, etc) and any recommendations on what to study for the 100 question exam (and links to online practice tests that are pediatric HH specific). Thank you so much! ☺ï¸
I am am thrilled to make it this far in the interviewing process with such a good company, I do not want to mess it up by being ill-prepared.
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,957 Posts
Likely private duty as skilled pediatric visits are usually limited to experienced oncology or other specialty nurses.
So no IV. Trach vent is not for new inexperienced grads as those are advanced skills. It's not common to have pediatric wound care. See my reply to your other post
Basic care. GT/JT/NG care, feeding, medication calculation and administration. Training in documentation. Typical vital signs, typical growth & development, common client conditions (seizures, failure to thrive, cerebral palsy, respiratory failure/bronchopulmonary dysplasia, genetic conditions/anomalies, SMA, )
They should have given you an idea.
That is very helpful, thank you so much! í ½í¸¦í ½í¸€í ½í¸Šâ˜ºï¸
They did not say. When I asked what topics I should review or anything pediatric specific that I should know beforehand, she said there really isn't any way I can prepare for the day, just be prepared for a lot of skills and paperwork.
Look at the agency website. If not a big one you can check out newborn nurses, Bayada, Maxim, PSA Healthcare, Epic Healthcare all list the type of patients cared for and services provided. No reputable agency will start an inexperienced new grad on pediatric high tech/tracheostomy/ventilator cases. You need to start with basic care first.
Review normal growth & development, milestones, basic A&P, weight based dosing.
Most of all remember children are not little adults. Some drug doses are microscopic compared to an adult dose other drugs would be an OD for an adult but a higher dose is needed because generally children metabolize quickly. A heart rate of 60 in a newborn or young infant needs CPR but is normal in a teen. Respirations of 12 in a 3 month old requires assisted ventilation with a BVM but are normal in a 16 year old.
Thank you! So very helpful, I will check their websites out for more information.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Before taking a peds assessment test, I used one of those review books that was specific to peds. Found it to be very helpful at the time.