What is pediatric nursing like?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I am a new grad considering a pediatric internship. Can anyone tell me what a typical day is like and is this a good specialty for a new grad? Thanks

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

New grads can come into Peds, I was a new grad when I started. You must have good assessment skills because kids can't or sometimes won't tell you what the problem is. Pediatric nursing involves nursing of the whole family. Rarely does your day only consist of taking care of the patient. Teaching is a big component, as many patients are admitted d/t poor parenting. A close relationship with your social worker is required.

Pay offs are big. A kids smile. A "I like you" mean more than any awards. Getting a kid well enough to be a kid again is the greatest reward.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I think "typical day" and "peds" are mutually exclusive. :D There is no such thing as a typical day. Pediatrics is a whole other animal from adult nursing. Children are often unpredictable so yo really have to be able to 'go with the flow." As the previous poster noted, when you work with pedi patients, you're actually working with the family. I have met many peds nurses who complain that "if the crazy families would just get out of my way,I could get some work done." You have to understand that a lot of your families will be upset and acting out. For most of them, the hospitalization of their child is the WORST thing that has ever happened to them and many do not have the coping skills to handle that. You will be the one teaching them how to manage their fears and manage their sick or hurt child. As upset as parents get, they really are just very scared.

As a peds nurse you'll be a little bit parent, a little bit social worker, a little bit housekeeper, a little bit play therapist, and a big chunk of nursing. You can be a generalist or you can specialize, such as oncology, NICU, ER, OR. Or you can even work outside of the hospital in home health,public health, hospice, doctors office or school nursing. My advice is to get experience in as many of these different areas as you can before you decide.

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Specializes in MedSurge/Tele/Observation.

I've got a friends who has been working in peds for five years, as a new grad too, and she says that it's not the patients that she has the trouble with its sometimes the parents because they can be very demanding and yes it is very hard for a parent to have their child in the hospital. I know when my daughter had a trauma accident, I wanted to freak out, but thankfully I used my own medical background experience to keep cool and I was very understanding towards the nurses so I try to stay out of their way so that they could do their job. Yet, not all parents will be like this, so that's what you want to prepare for.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Peds are like adults... only smaller. poke.gif

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Specializes in mental health + aged care.

Paeds is fun! :) Only worked (well, final clinical placement anyway) Paeds outpatients where the pts go home after a few minutes or a few hours but I did notice the complexity compared with adult nursing. You need to be able to (or learn to) communicate with the children on their own level and to negotiate and explain the assessment/treatment in a way they'll understand. Also need to be creative in this process.

I had to do an ECG on one child (18mo-2y - ish) who really did not want one. Had a parent blowing bubbles and I got the sticker box and we put some animal stickers on top of the ECG stickers. I also let him stay standing for the ECG. He did stay still and calm long enough for me to get it first time!

Another ECG I did was on a 5yo girl who had had a previous EEG and hated it. Of course, since ECG and EEG sound similar, she was terrified I was going to put nasty stuff in her hair. This time I had to stop and explain to her what was going to happen and reassure her that I wasn't going anywhere near her head

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I worked at a large urban Children's Hospital. Each area has a different "feel". I started out working with kids

When I went part-time they started to float me almost every shift, that would be older, verbal children. That's where your personality and communication skills need to be sharp! It really does take a special person to work in peds. I believe that cliche is true. It's tough to see a 14 yr old dx with leukemia pushing their IV pole down the hall with their adoring but scared- blank-less parents. It can be frustrating with adolescent or rehab kids with chronic illnesses - teenager rebelliousness is in full bloom!!

I know that for every extra mile a peds nurse walks, it is returned tenfold.

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Peds are like adults... only smaller. poke.gif

I couldn't disagree with this more.

When we have docs cross-covering from adults, they must have their hands held, because we look for completely different things with kids, give different meds and fluids, and all dosing is weight-based.

Babies cannot tell you their hand is burning, and within 30 minutes of an IV site looking totally fine, it can be completely infiltrated. A small child can go from an iffy respiratory status to ICU status in minutes, too - and they cannot put on the call light to tell you they can't breathe.

As to wether or not this is the right area for you, most people either "do kids" or not. Go for a shadow day and see if it feels right to you.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I couldn't disagree with this more.

When we have docs cross-covering from adults, they must have their hands held, because we look for completely different things with kids, give different meds and fluids, and all dosing is weight-based.

Babies cannot tell you their hand is burning, and within 30 minutes of an IV site looking totally fine, it can be completely infiltrated. A small child can go from an iffy respiratory status to ICU status in minutes, too - and they cannot put on the call light to tell you they can't breathe.

As to wether or not this is the right area for you, most people either "do kids" or not. Go for a shadow day and see if it feels right to you.

I agree with you. In nursing school we were always told, "Children are not small adults" I went to the Children's Hospital web site last night to have a look and it also says that in big bold letters on their main page!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I started out in pediatric nursing as a new grad, and have been doing it for 2 years now. If you start out on a general peds medical or surgical floor, you will build time management skills, assessment skills, and you will learn the different norms in the various stages of child development.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
I couldn't disagree with this more.

Really? Damn, can't get one past you...

Good grief you people are wound tight. I was JOKING hence the poking with a stick icon.

poke.gif**Not serious here** poke.gif

Of course they are not little adults. It was suppose to be funny there Morticia.

Take a breath and not take every little word typed out here in cyberland so seriously.

What, Do you have a degree in Google? I can't possibly make a joke. C'mmon, laugh a little...

1 person at least got it.

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Specializes in mental health + aged care.

1 person at least got it.

Really? Which one? lol :p

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