5 Questions to Ask When Searching for Your Next Pediatric Nursing Job

During the interview process when applying for jobs as a Pediatric Home Care Nurse, it can be beneficial to prepare a list of questions to ask the employer. These questions should help you determine whether the organization and role align with your professional goals, values, and personal needs. Here are five examples of questions to ask during your interview. 

What is the Organization’s Approach to Continuing Education and Professional Development?

As the pediatric healthcare industry is always evolving, nurses must stay up-to-date with all the latest techniques and research. A successful healthcare organization allows nurses to grow professionally and personally through certifications, workshops, classes, conferences, and other learning opportunities. 

How Does the Organization Support Communication?

Effective communication in the workplace creates a healthy working environment, empowering individuals to foster collaboration and increase productivity. For a healthcare organization to have successful communication, leaders must give a clear sense of direction, allow for flexibility, take risks, actively listen, and develop a foundation of trust. Communication is essential in pediatric home care because it better ensures that a patient’s medical needs are met. 

What is the Typical Caseload?

As a home care nurse, you will most likely be working with a patient for a long period of time. Because of this, you should know how many patients you will be responsible for caring for and how often the caseload might change. The answer will impact the quality of care you can provide and overall job satisfaction. 

Is there a Work-Life Balance?

The job of a Pediatric Home Care Nurse can be both physically and mentally challenging. To prevent burnout, an organization needs to have a strong work-life balance. A healthcare organization’s work-life balance can range from offering flexible hours, PTO, parental leave, wellness programs, regular check-ins, and employee resource groups. 

How Does the Company Ensure the Safety and Wellbeing of Patients and Nurses in Home Settings?

The most important part of pediatric home care is that nurses, patients, and their families always feel safe. Since medically fragile patients require physical assistance, medication management, and wound care, nurses need a safe area to perform these tasks without injuring themselves or the patient. At the same time, patients who feel safe within their environment are more likely to communicate about their pain, allowing nurses to provide better care thus resulting in more positive health outcomes. Ask the healthcare organization what procedures they have in place to ensure that patients, families, and nurses are protected. In addition, ask them what processes and tactics they have in place in the case of an emergency with a patient, their family member, or a nurse. 

 Use these five questions to help you with your next nursing interview and browse Thrive SPC’s open careers at https://www.thrivespc.com/careers/.