Pediatric Nurse Career
Pediatric nurses enjoy rewarding careers working with children in hospitals, doctor's offices, and other medical settings. Job growth is expected to be strong in this field, so earn your degree in nursing and start a pediatric nurse career.
A Pediatric Nurse Career: What to Expect
Pediatric nurses provide preventive and necessary medical care to infants, children, and adolescents, generally through age 18. This challenging and rewarding career entails being a caregiver, educator, coordinator, counselor, and supporter.
The job encompasses recording and analyzing patients' medical histories and symptoms; performing diagnostic tests and evaluating the results; coordinating and administering medications, immunizations and treatment; and involving both child and family in the plan. These nurses detect changes in patients and anticipate health problems. They assess whether patients are adhering to treatment. They also determine any needs that patients may have related to development and growth.
These healthcare professionals maintain confidentiality in their relationships with patients and sometimes serve as their advocates. They educate patients and their parents, guardians, and/or family about various medical conditions, prevention, and treatment.
Pediatric nurses work both independently and alongside a pediatrician. They most often are based in traditional healthcare settings, such as medical offices, emergency rooms, hospital floors, intensive care units, and clinics, but also are stationed elsewhere, like in schools and summer camps.
Required Training for a Pediatric Nurse Career
Pediatric nurses need an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing from a nursing school at a college, university, or hospital. After graduating, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination--Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN). Subsequently, some states and/or employers may require that RNs regularly earn continuing education credits.
Job opportunities for nurses are expected to remain strong in coming years, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 22 percent job growth.
The Following Schools Provide Educational Programs For Pediatric Nurse Careers:
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