How to become A Pediatric Nurse

They are there when their patients are scared; they know when their patients need a snack, a drink or a comforting hug; they wipe their patients’ tears and make them laugh; they offer their patients’ families a strong and sympathetic shoulder to lean on. They are Pediatric Nurses - real-life angels in scrubs!

• Children’s Nurse
• Registered Nurse (Children)

What do Pediatric Nurses Do?

A Pediatric Nurse would typically need to:

• Provide specialised bedside, medical and health care to ill, injured or disabled children from birth through adolescence
• Work closely with doctors to assess and determine the level of nursing care a pediatric patient requires, based on their circumstances
• Use EMR (electronic medical records) to record the patient’s vitals and history and deliver proper patient care
• Assist doctors with physical examinations, checking temperature, measuring blood pressure and respiration rates
• Help treat a pediatric population for leukaemia, lymphoma, neuro-oncology, sarcomas and bone cancers
• Set up, operate and monitor specialised equipment such as cardiac monitors, defibrillators and 12-lead ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Assist providers with bone marrow biopsies, conscious sedation, vision/hearing screenings and ear flush 
• Dispense chemotherapy, medication, post-operative care and hospice care, as outlined in the treatment plan 
• Perform critical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency resuscitation as per ACLS protocol
• Provide and administer drugs, injections, blood transfusions and drips, as well as cleaning and dressing wounds
• Train, monitor, mentor and guide LPNs and Certified Nursing Assistants providing direct medical care to pediatric patients
• Use their knowledge and skills to accurately interpret the behaviour of a child who is not capable of explaining its condition
• Gain the trust and confidence of pediatric patients and their primary caregivers; provide them with emotional support during distressing situations
• Enhance the medical awareness of the parents or caregivers; teach them the skills needed to continue with the child’s treatment on returning home

A Pediatric Nurse may work in a hospital (special wards or units), home or community settings.

Although the work environment and conditions may vary with the place of employment, close contact with people, use of sophisticated medical equipment and teaming up with physicians, surgeons, healthcare assistants, social workers and hospital play specialists are a given. 

Pediatric Nurses generally work 37.5 hours a week, although you can put in extra hours. The work schedule includes evenings, weekends, night shifts and bank holidays. Most employers offer part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Pediatric Nurses can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting hospitals directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Pediatric Nurses are generally employed by:

• Government Healthcare Systems
• General Practices (GPs)
• , Day-Care Centres
• Child Health Clinics
• Educational Institutions
• School Health Education Units
• Travel Companies/Holiday Resorts
• Nursing Agencies
• Private Healthcare Organizations
• Private Patients
• Charities and Voluntary Organizations
• Doctors’ Offices

Healthcare associations, such as The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. 

Affiliated Pediatric Nurses may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Physical strain due to night shifts and extended periods spent walking, bending and standing 
• High likelihood of back injuries from having to lift and move patients, whenever necessary
• Emotional stress of helping young patients and their families deal with painful and upsetting health conditions in a calm, confident and sympathetic manner
• Strong possibility of exposure to infectious diseases and potentially harmful drugs, accidental needle sticks, radiations or chemicals used for sterilisation
• The constant need to follow strict guidelines to make sure they and their patients stay healthy and safe

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a medical program needs voluntary or paid work experience in their local hospital, doctor's surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. It will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a career in medicine.

Although most employers favour candidates with prior work experience as an RN, Staff Nurse (SN) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), pre-entry experience as a childcare assistant or any role that involves caring for and working with children will also carry weight.

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their paediatric departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a career as a Paediatric Nurse. It can be a helpful way to gain insight.

Read about the profession, perform community service, undertake relevant research work and interview/ job shadow experts working in pediatric nursing to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

It helps to document any such experiences on letters of recommendation to be submitted with nursing school applications.

The majority of Pediatric Nurses hold an accredited BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) followed by an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing), an ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing, all of which take around four years to complete. In addition, employers do entertain candidates with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or high school graduates with a two-year associate degree from a community college.

A lesser number have a two- to three-year-long diploma from an approved nursing program, typically offered by hospitals, independent schools of nursing or medical centres. It is also viable to become a Pediatric Nurse with just a high school degree or GED (General Education Development), provided you fulfil the essential requirements. 

An MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) is preferred by a very small number, although most pursue it as an essential aspect of continuing professional development.

Some employers mandate a nursing degree approved by the local nursing and midwifery council or a Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing (child branch). The prerequisites may vary across education providers but sound health and character along with adequate knowledge of English, maths and a science-based subject, preferably biological science are standard.

An associate degree or hospital diploma will enable you to begin practising as a Registered Nurse (RN). However, you will need a BSN to carry out nursing duties at a case manager or supervisory level. 

Whatever be the kind of qualification you choose, make sure that the program includes courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology as well as social and behavioural sciences.

Focus on building your knowledge of health education, physical and biological sciences and psychology in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing and oral communication skills.

Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), pediatric nursing, core trauma training, family nursing and executive nursing from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Although all nurses require a licence to practice, the profession is diversifying into technical nursing that requires associate degrees, and professional nursing that mandates bachelor’s degrees. If this is the case in your location too, it would be wise to check whether only nurses with bachelor’s degrees would be eligible for RN licensure.

Typically, licensure requires an application, processing fees, an examination, and relevant education and experience.

In addition, you may need to register with your local nursing and midwifery council before you begin practising. Some locations may also mandate passing a criminal background check.

Performance and experience drive the career progression of Pediatric Nurses who can become Senior Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Ward Sister, Ward Manager or Team Leader and run a ward or a team of nurses in the community. 

Consequent promotion to other management roles such as Matron, Director of Nursing or Chief Nursing Officer is also possible. The managerial experience can open the doors to managing a clinical unit and eventually to executive posts within a health trust.

The acquisition of additional professional qualifications at the postgraduate level will enable you to apply for Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) positions. In due course, you can move to a Nurse Consultant role. At this point, self-employment and attractive overseas job offers become distinct possibilities.

Pediatric Nurses can specialise in various hospital and community areas such as neonatal intensive care, pediatric oncology, burns and plastics, child protection, ambulatory care, asthma, orthopaedics, diabetes, counselling, continuing care for children with special needs and working in young people’s units.

In addition, you will be able to focus on research, teaching or a community-based role such as a School Nurse or Health Visitor. Jobs in private healthcare, social services, voluntary organisations or charities will be easily attainable.

Candidates with a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), certifications in BLS and ACLS and significant work experience will have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. It embraces new learning objectives, methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT. CPD will also enable the regular renewal of desirable certifications and registrations.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Pediatric Nurses. 

They can avail themselves of employee-sponsored structured training in the form of apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships. An Advanced Diploma in Children’s Nursing is a viable alternative, and so is the opportunity to specialise in fields ranging from burns and plastics to neonatal nursing to intensive care.  

Pediatric Nurses could also invest an additional year in specialising in a divergent discipline such as learning disability or mental health by completing a second registration course. Standard prerequisites include proof of recent study and financial support from the employer.

An MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degree will fulfil the ambitions of Pediatric Nurses who wish to become Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs).

Make A Big Difference In Small Ways

Given that diverse medical, social, cultural and family circumstances need to be factored into your assessment of the nursing needs of each one of your patients, empathy and sensitivity should play critical roles in your interactions with the patient and their families or caregivers.

Of equal importance are communication skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment independently and in a team, observational and interpretative skills, organisational skills and a calm temperament. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Pediatric Nurses have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Pediatric Nurse has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

During a 12-hour shift, nurses walk an average of four to five miles.

You will be short on sleep, energy and a score of other things. But there are two things you can be sure you will experience in abundance as a Pediatric Nurse - love and laughter.

While dealing with children and their families, maintain a positive attitude. Reassuring scared children and worrying parents require a lot of patience and kindness.