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Pediatric Transition to Practice Program
The pediatric transition to practice program is an intensive, multi-phased program to assist new graduate nurses in their development from novice to advanced beginner pediatric nurses. The program is designed to provide all orientees with:
- Information regarding policies, procedures, and standards
- Resources, knowledge, and skills necessary for the care of the child
- Precepted practice opportunities to achieve competence in the PICU or pediatric acute care setting
Program Structure & Goals
Qualifications & Eligibility
- Open to new graduate nurses with less than 1 year of RN experience, hired to acute pediatrics or the pediatric intensive care unit at Ochsner Children’s Hospital.
- Must have graduated from an accredited ADN or BSN program.
- RN licensure required from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing prior to start date.
Cohort timing
- The program is offered in three cohorts, with start dates in February, July and October.
Program Expectations
- Attend all scheduled classes.
- Complete all required online learning.
- Participants must meet expectations and complete assignments for each phase to progress to the next.
If you are interested in starting your pediatric nursing program, apply today to learn more about next steps!
What will this program offer new nurses?
- Continuing education hours
- Clinical ladder opportunities
- Paid residency program
- Tuition reimbursement for academic advancement
- BLS and PALS certification courses
- Monetary reward for RN’s receiving a specialty certification
- Dedicated pediatric nursing content with peer support and blended learning
- Weekly residency sessions range from basic pediatric assessment and equipment operation to high fidelity simulation and disease specific nursing care of acutely and critically ill children
Program Levels
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Novice
The program begins at the novice level after completing hospital CORE orientation, which typically lasts 12–18 weeks. During this time, you will experience precepted clinical rotations under the guidance and support of our exceptional clinical nursing staff and program facilitators.
The novice level is organized into three phases that represent a tiered approach to skill acquisition, the synergy of clinical knowledge, and critical thinking. Each phase includes specific goals, expectations, blended learning opportunities, and simulation exercises. Below are the key components for each phase:
- Phase 1:
- Patient-centered care
- Pathophysiology of the pediatric patient
- Inter-professional collaboration and role transition
- Evidence-based practice
- Safety and quality improvement
- Documentation
- Time management
- Phase 2:
- Diagnosis and treatment of common pediatric disease processes
- Critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills
- Management of advanced technology
- Prioritization of care
- Phase 3
- Ethics
- Communication and delegation
- Building confidence in independent practice
- Stress management
- Phase 1:
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Intermediate
The intermediate level builds upon the skills developed in the novice level and typically concludes one year after hire. During this phase, the team member will continue to refine the skills acquired previously, while expanding their competence in caring for more complex pediatric patients. The team member will complete the required intermediate-level education and additional competencies to enhance their clinical expertise and readiness for more independent practice.
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Advanced
The advanced level builds upon the intermediate level and typically lasts until approximately 36 months after orientation. During this phase, the team member will engage in a variety of didactic and precepted learning opportunities to further enhance their knowledge and skills. Key areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
- ICU: Cardiac Core, ECMO, CRRT, HFOV
- Acute Care: APHON, BMT, LVAD
- All Areas: Advanced preceptor training and charge nurse training
The team member will complete the educational requirements associated with these competencies to achieve a higher level of expertise and readiness for advanced practice.
