The occupation of pediatric nurse is a challenging but rewarding career. It is a job that allows you to help children become and stay healthy, while working closely with their parents, caregivers and family members to educate, without creating worry or panic. For this reason, becoming a pediatric nurse requires not only competent nursing skills, but above that, topnotch people skills such as patience, empathy and compassion. A pediatric nurse needs to be prepared to handle a number of difficult, and often disheartening, scenarios including children who are severely ill as well as parents or caregivers who are extremely negligent. A pediatric nurse will argue that the rewards far outweigh the challenges, however. Rewards of the job include healing sick children and teaching prevention to those who are healthy. Other perks include flexibility in hours and location of employment and adequate salary.
Here is how to become a pediatric nurse:
- Strive to earn a degree through nurse education. There are three routes one can take to become a pediatric nurse. The first is to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), which is a certificate and takes approximately one year to obtain. The second is to become a registered nurse (RN), which culminates in an associate’s degree and typically takes two years to obtain. The third option is to attend a four-year program to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing. There are some differences between the skills gained through each of these routes; the more intensive the schooling, the more responsibility and flexibility the practitioner will have during work and sometimes this equates to higher pay. To learn specifics about the exact abilities and duties of each of the three nursing routes, as well as to seek nurse-training programs that are reputable and accredited, individuals should contact their state’s department of health or local nursing board. An option for those with families or difficult schedules is an online nursing degree. Accredited online nursing schools offer excellent educational programs and great support from teachers and administrators, as well as flexibility to complete the requirements from home. If individuals are uncertain about their ability to stay focused and organized while learning online, a more traditional route is likely a better option.
- Get your license to practice nursing as a certified nurse. After earning a diploma, individuals working toward becoming a pediatric nurse must sit for and pass the nursing licensure examination. Some individuals might choose to sit for the exam immediately upon completing school while information is fresh. Others may choose to wait and study further before taking the exam. Either way, the examination is an important step in one’s progression toward becoming a pediatric nurse.
- Find a nurse job at a hospital with a pediatrics section. The best next step to start building your experience right after receiving a nursing license is to begin working in a setting where pediatric nursing is present. This might include a pediatrician’s office, hospital, or school setting, basically anywhere kids are being cared for. If working in a pediatric department becomes too challenging due to a lack of experience, another plan for one’s nursing career is to apply for a program in pediatric internship, which will provide an opportunity to learn specific pediatric nursing skills. Internships can last anywhere between three months and a year, after which one’s credentials and experience will make them a more likely candidate for hire in a pediatric nursing position.
- Be proactive about gaining skills and knowledge. Being in active practice doesn’t mean discontinuing a learning drive. It is important for pediatric nurses to regularly enroll in continuing education classes, attend conferences and join the professional association for pediatric nursing to maintain and sharpen skills as well as learn new information and techniques to improve one’s practice. For example, one might choose to enroll in a child psychology course to learn to better deal with patients and family members, obtaining such skills as improved communication in order to interact effortlessly with your patients’ often anxious parents. Pediatric nurses may also choose to complete graduate studies and intensify specialized trainings so they can readily qualify for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Examinations.
- Know the job outlook and salary. Job outlook and salary for pediatric nurses is highly dependent on the type of setting and regional location in which the individual works as well as the level of education and years of experience. As of 2011, an LPN can earn approximately $35,000, an RN can earn approximately $57,000, and a nurse who has obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing can earn approximately $65,000. The job outlook for pediatric nursing is steady for the upcoming years due to several factors including the increasing age of nurses currently in practice and the decline in infant and childhood death due to continual medical advances.
Once you complete nurse training and gain pediatric specific experience, individuals seeking a career in pediatric nursing can be assured a long and rewarding career. Helping to make sick children well and aiding in prevention of further illness or disease in our younger population is an important and necessary task. By having a positive influence in the lives of children at an early age, a pediatric nurse will have a huge impact on the future of our youth.