Pediatric nursing is one of the best-known and most popular nursing specialties. It deals with the care and treatment of infant, child, and adolescent patients. A pediatric nurse may give direct care to a patient as well as provide support services related to their treatment.
Like any other nursing specialty, pediatric nursing professionals may have a:
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
- Bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN)
- Diploma
- Master’s in nursing (MSN)
After graduation with a degree, a prospective pediatric nurse should enroll in an internship at a hospital with a pediatric department. Alternatively a clinic or other medical facility that sees numerous young patients may also be acceptable. Most internship last between 3 months to 1 year, although some nurses may extend their internship if they feel the need for more experience. Some educational programs may have a minimum hour’s requirement for internships.
It’s strongly recommended that prospective pediatric nurses continue their education during the internship period. Taking courses related to their expected work duties will be helpful in the long run. Some suggested classes include:
- Adolescent psychology
- Child development
- Child psychology
- Family psychology
Because most pediatric patients will be represented by a parent or guardian, pediatric nurses often take courses related to families and not only classes about children. Psychology courses are popular, as are classes on communication and foreign languages.
At the conclusion of the internship period, a prospective pediatric nurse may schedule their Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam (CPN) at their convenience. After passing, the nurse is allowed to be called a certified pediatric nurse in their professional life and on their resume.
As with all other normal nursing specialties, pediatric nurses can choose to specialize in a number of different aspects of pediatric care. For example, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course teaches nurses how to better manage the care of infants and children with critical long-term illnesses. These additional certifications will educate pediatric nurses on how to effectively care for a variety of conditions that pediatric patients may have.
Because young patients are everywhere, pediatric nurses are in great demand just like regular nurses. In particular, demand is expected to be highest in rural areas and deep inner-city medical facilities. Pediatric nurses with multiple certifications or who are able to speak a foreign language will have the best opportunities for employment.
Although it may seem like common sense, prospective pediatric nurses should understand that they will be working with young patients. Some people may find it more difficult to respond to a child’s death than an adult’s. Adequate coping and relaxation methods are necessary to prevent premature psychological burnout.
For nurses who enjoy caring for younger patients, pediatric nursing may be the specialty for them. Although significant numbers of nurses choose it each year, the demand for pediatric nurses continues to grow rapidly. As medical staff who focus on young patients, pediatric nurses are ensuring that some of society’s most vulnerable members continue to live on and grow up to become adults.