A Career as a Pediatric Nurse?

Answer 1

For those who love children and have a desire to make their lives better, there is no career more rewarding than working as a pediatric nurse. Pediatric nurses are highly specialized individuals who dedicate their lives to keeping children healthy while ensuring that they live each and every day to the fullest. Through comprehensive training, pediatric nurses have become authorities in their field and, even more so, the guardians of the futures of young children everywhere.

Training to be a pediatric nurse starts by obtaining a degree from a four-year bachelor’s program, a two-year associate’s program, or a certificate from a licensed nursing school. Though through which means this education is obtained is entirely the candidate’s prerogative, it should be noted that employers do look more favorably upon candidates with a four year bachelor’s degree. From here, individuals must obtain a license by completing the NCLEX-RN, or National Council Licensure Examination.

It should be noted that people looking to become a pediatric nurses require more education than the average nurse, as nursing schools don’t offer licensing opportunities for pediatric nurses. Individuals need to already have a job within the medical field, preferably within the pediatric sector of a hospital. Candidates should further their education by completing an internship in pediatric nursing their place of work. These steps will give the individual more hands-on training while granting him or her a functional idea of what a normal day as a pediatric nurse will be like. Following this, those wishing to become a pediatric nurse need to complete Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam, or CPN. As stated before, this exam can only be taken once the individual has a working knowledge of pediatric nursing, as well as a career within the medical field.

Though the training to become one is quite comprehensive, working as a pediatric nurse is equal parts rewarding and dynamic. An ever-changing work environment awaits those who complete every level of the training, and though it will take years for most candidates to complete, the payoff is definitely worth every minute spent in licensing exams. The opportunity to change the lives of children is one that many dream of but very few attain—for those with strong interpersonal skills, a thirst for knowledge, and a love for our nation’s youth, there is no greater career prospect than becoming a pediatric nurse.

Answer 2

While doctors might provide their patients with all of the required technical aspects of their health care services, these workers simply do not have time to fulfill their patients' each and every need. A doctor will examine a patient and prescribe a treatment, but it is the nurse's role to ensure that the patient is truly well cared for, both on a physical and an emotional level. Nurses might counsel a patient in regards to what his or her next treatment step should be. They keep track of the patient's medical records, and provide a helping hand when the patient is in emotional distress. The role of a nurse is particularly important when dealing with children, as many children are both confused and frightened by the medical system. Pediatric nurses assist children in receiving the health care that they need in order to be healthy, happy, and fit.

Most pediatric nurses work on a general level, providing children with care whenever and wherever they need it. However, some pediatric nurses choose to focus on a specific specialization. For instance, pediatric oncology nurses work specifically with children who are suffering from or recovering from cancer. Critical care pediatric nurses assist kids during emergency situations, while educative pediatric nurses specialize in teaching children about proper health practices at various schools in the area.

If one wishes to become a pediatric nurse, he or she will likely have to achieve a bachelor's degree of science in nursing from a reputable university. Some health care practices will accept nurses who possess only an associate's degree in nursing or a diploma from a specialized nursing vocational school, but these instances are becoming more and more rare as time goes on. Nurses who possess a bachelor's degree will additionally enjoy far better advancement opportunities than their less educated peers.

The starting salary for a pediatric nurse is roughly $42,600 per year. As a pediatric nurse gains more experience, he or she is likely to be elevated to a higher position with more responsibility and management authority. These more experienced nurses earn an average of $62,500 per year, with the most talented nurses earning in excess of $93,000 annually.