Staffing on Peds "area" of hospital

Published

Hello everyone,

I am a peds nurse with PALS but work postpartum and float to peds. We have an area assigned for pediatric patients, however it is not a "PEDS unit" or they say. Anyway my question is.. Can this "unit" be staffed with med/surg nurse and nurse educator. That happened one day last week. The peds rn called off. Also the following nite they put a mother-baby nurse there who has no peds and no pals because they had no peds nurse once again. I heard our CNO told the M/B nurse to just do her best!! Very concerned, and need info on what action can be taken so this stops. Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

What would have been the alternative? If there is no peds nurse around then they have to staff with whoever is available?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

My local (suburban) community hospital has a three-bed peds ward that is often closed because of staffing issues. If there is no peds nurse on for a shift and they can't get anyone in, they either discharge the kid or transfer him/her to the children's hospital in the city. Very occasionally they'll have someone on the adult medicine ward who has peds experience who will take the ward for the shift, but that doesn't happen much. None of those peds nurses have PALS.

RN0202, I'm a PICU nurse with PALS who has been floated to antepartum... scared out of my gourd! The nursing supervisor told me to do my best. I told her that if anything happened while I was alone on that floor, I was calling a code. She laughed, but I was serious.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hm-this is interesting. I just had an interview this morning for a Peds position (fingers crossed). The unit is 6 beds. If the unit is empty, you have the option to not come in but be on call if a patient does come in, or they float you to another floor. However-they do NOT float anyone in to the Peds unit-it must be a Peds nurse. I was so very happy to hear this.

Now, currently where I work, I have only been there for 2 months. It is a transitional/LTC facility for children, 0-21 yo. I average 7 patients, but have had as many as 9. I have a nursing tech, but they strictly change undergarments, bathe, etc-they do not take vitals and such. I cry a lot. Sincerely. But I think a lot of that is probably since I'm a brand new nurse and this is my first job.

I have been OBSESSED all day and night with my interview and so hope I get this position!!! There are not many nursing positions in my area at all, never mind in the area that I want.

Anyway, I was told that if I was in but was being floated, they would only float me to Med/Surg. That was a relief to hear too-I had visions of being floated to ED or L&D...:bluecry1:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion