WORKING NURSE:  What is your current role in nursing?

MICHAEL VICIOSO, RN, MSNc, CCRN: I’m the Pediatric Nurse Manager at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)/St. Joseph’s Emergency Department (ED) in Orange, California.
 
How did you get into this specialty and did it require any special training?

I’ve been a pediatric nurse for 14 years and love emergency care. Both pediatrics and emergency nursing are in themselves specialty careers. I started out working at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) right out of nursing school. Since then, I’ve been devoted to pediatric care.

After pediatric research, pediatric neurology, and working on the floor for a while, I came to the ED at CHLA. I am so impressed with the way the nurses practice side-by-side with the physicians. The unique collaboration of nursing, medicine, and respiratory care really was what attracted me to the ED the most.
 
How long have you worked for this hospital, and how did you choose to begin working there?

I’ve been working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange for about four years now. I selected this organization because of its affiliation with CHOC.
 
What does a typical day involve for you?

Most of my days are filled with meetings and interacting with ED staff. It’s our goal to provide the most efficient and competent pediatric emergency care possible. Our organization has started an initiative to provide “perfect care” to our community. This translates nicely to the expectations of our patients and families. On a daily basis, I review charts and discuss with staff ways to improve efficiencies and quality of care. I participate in multidisciplinary committees with tasks that include quality improvement, accountability, and process improvement.

What are your favorite aspects of the job?

Although it happens less frequently than I prefer, I really enjoy interacting with our patients and families the most. The kids we care for are so unique in every way. The families are intelligent and inquisitive, and eager to learn about what is ailing their children. When I introduce myself as the department’s pediatric manager, they appreciate the “special” attention that I think they deserve. I also really enjoy mentoring staff. Our ED RNs are truly what makes this department run so well. Like my boss tells me, “They’re the product, not us. Our job is to help facilitate their practice. We need to provide them with the tools they need to fly and be successful.”

Any challenges or least favorite aspects of the job?

Too many meetings. I feel like I’d get more done without having to attend the number of meetings I do every week. But I know better. Without pediatric ED representation at each and every meeting I go to, little attention would be spent on what we do and what we need to operate.
 
What advice would you give to a nurse looking to enter your field of nursing?

Pediatric emergency care is the most satisfying and exhilarating thing anyone can do. What could be more gratifying than saving the life of a child? Children are so full of hope and opportunity. Who knows? The life you could be saving may be the person who will find a cure for cancer, or solve the problems of world hunger, or be the president of the United States! Every life we interact with is a precious moment. As pediatric emergency nurses, we cherish each and every moment we can. We try and positively influence a child at every opportunity.

Working in a pediatric emergency department has kept my fire burning and enhanced my desire to remain an advocate for the best pediatric emergency care across the county.   

FURTHER REFERENCE

BOOKS:

Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Procedures
Smith’s Book of Recognizing Syndromes
Davis and Zitelli’s Pediatric Atlas
Thomas and Bernardo, Core Curriculum for Pediatric Emergency Nursing, ENA
Pediatric Nursing Procedures: Bowden and Greenberg
The Harriet Lane Handbook

RESOURCES:

Pediatric Emergency Medicine, www.pemdatabase.org

Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam www.pncb.org/cpen.html

Emergency Nurses Association, www.ena.org

Society of Pediatric Nurses, www.pedsnurses.org

American Academy of Pediatric Annual Conference www.aapexperience.org
Note: the pediatric ED breakout sessions are amazing!