Why do you love being a pediatric nurse?

180Chick · Sep 19, 2008

I'm a nursing student, and I will hopefully become an RN by May '10. It's my first semester in this rigorous program! :eek: But I know I can do it!

Anyway, my university just started the Anesthesia program so people can get the CRNA degree. I was thinking about doing that (for the money, what else). But I am feeling this amazing drawing to work with neonates/peds. I am a 4.0 student, but to get accepted into the MSN program, you have to work in "an acute care setting" for at least one year first. I'm sure that would be like an ICU or something similar. But I just can't stop thinking about how much I would LOVE to work with peds. If I do that (instead of working in ICU), I won't get accepted into the program. Reading this stuff makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside. :)

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 19, 2008

I am feeling this amazing drawing to work with neonates/peds. I am a 4.0 student, but to get accepted into the MSN program, you have to work in "an acute care setting" for at least one year first. I'm sure that would be like an ICU or something similar. But I just can't stop thinking about how much I would LOVE to work with peds. If I do that (instead of working in ICU), I won't get accepted into the program. Reading this stuff makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside. :)

I'm not sure why you think that working in pediatrics is not an acute care setting. These days any patient admitted to hospital is going to be acutely ill. At my hospital the nurses on the peds floors look after kids who would have been in the PICU a decade ago. Peds nursing isn't sitting in a rocking chair feeding a baby, it's real acute care nursing. Your patients might have chest tubes, drains, central lines, non-invasive ventilation, tracheostomies, external ventricular drains, epidurals; they might need multiple IV antibiotics, antihypertensive meds, bronchodilators, steroids, chemotherapy, transplant meds, frequent lab work, dressing changes, the gamut. Working in this environment would not preclude you from being accepted into an MSN program at all. If you want to work with children, work with children!

180Chick · Sep 19, 2008

I know that, and I know the seriousness of it. It's just that for the MSN program to become a CRNA, they want ICU work (for some reason). I think it is a little odd as well. I spoke with my advisors about it, as well as the nursing professors and several students in the program. They all said to work ICU instead, and that I wouldn't be accepted if I worked peds. I thought that the terminology "acute care setting" was a bit off as well. In my mind, I thought ALL settings were 'acute.'

Thanks

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 19, 2008

What's wrong with working in a pediatric ICU then?

180Chick · Sep 22, 2008

Ah, that's an excellent idea to get around that clause. Then you could work pediatrics, plus work in the ICU. You could still get the requirement for the MSN program, but still work with kids. That's a great idea! Thanks! :)

Since it's my first year in nursing school, I don't know a lot about the different specialty areas. Would one have to work in a children's hospital to work in a pediatric ICU specifically?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 22, 2008

You possibly might have to work in a children's hospital, although the PICU I work in is part of a university hospital. Check into the hospitals in your area and see which have PICUs. You might be surprised.

180Chick · Sep 22, 2008

Thanks for the great advice! I live in a very small, rural area in Tennessee. There is only one local hospital here, and it is very small. To work in a children's hospital or university hospital, I would have to drive over an hour away. I will definitely check around here, though. Thanks again! :)

DDRN4me · Sep 22, 2008

What do I love about pedi?

that no matter what has happened to a child both physically and emotionally we can still care for them and make them smile:)

they are never malicious.. they are able to forgive you for "boo-boos" like labs ...especially for a sticiker!

I love the sweet innocence of a dd child; and the trust in their eyes when you are caring for them.

I love the "family centered' aspect of working with the entire family unit to help a child be well.

and of course the great hugs:heartbeat

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 22, 2008

Thanks for the great advice! I live in a very small, rural area in Tennessee. There is only one local hospital here, and it is very small. To work in a children's hospital or university hospital, I would have to drive over an hour away. I will definitely check around here, though. Thanks again! :)

Well, I would guess that you'd have to either make that same commute, or move, in order to work in an adult ICU, wouldn't you? Your local hospital doesn't have an ICU I'm betting, and if it does, it's likely to be more like an urban stepdown unit that an urban ICU, so one way or another, you're going to have to go somewhere else if you really want that CRNA later.