How To Become a Pediatric Registered Nurse?

Introduction

Do you want to work with and care for young patients, providing compassion and support during their most vulnerable stages? Then it's time to build your career as a pediatric registered nurse! A study reveals that more than 20% of school-aged children and adolescents in the US have been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. As a pediatric nurse, you will help such children by diagnosing illnesses and prescribing suitable medical care, along with preventive treatments.

Read on to explore the steps to becoming a pediatric registered nurse and the skills required to succeed in this rewarding career!

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What is a Pediatric Registered Nurse?

A pediatric registered nurse is a health professional trained to care for children from birth through adolescence. Such nurses focus on the specific physical, emotional, and growth needs of young patients and assist them in recovering from illness, managing chronic conditions, and maintaining wellness.

To become a pediatric RN, first, you need to complete a nursing program, such as an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Then, you have to earn a nursing license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam. 

Pediatric RNs work in hospitals, pediatric clinics, schools, or community health centers, among other places. They consult with parents or guardians and other healthcare providers to develop good care plans. A pediatric nurse is usually part of a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, caretakers, healthcare assistants, and others. 

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Roles and Responsibilities of Pediatric Registered Nurse

Pediatric registered nurses have a range of duties that allow them to deliver routine and specialized care in a variety of situations. Some of the main pediatric nurse responsibilities are as follows:

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Report Writing

Like other nursing professionals, pediatric registered nurses are responsible for recording the progress of patients’ conditions under their care. Hence, you will have to document the patients’ treatment plans, the medication they are taking, and their day-to-day prognosis. These reports should be updated before completing the shift each day.

Observation of Strict Safety and Hygiene Rules

As a pediatric registered nurse, you need to ensure that the facility and care rooms remain neat and hygienic to prevent the spread of infections among children. You also need to ensure that visitors adhere to the hospital’s rules and regulations.

Educate and Advise Patients and Families

Pediatric nurses must provide comprehensive care to child patients and their families. As a pediatric RN, you will explain any surgical procedures and treatment plans to them in a way they can easily understand and know what to expect in the future. This will assist them in providing informed consent for procedures and increase confidence in the care being provided.

Performing Physical Assessments

As a pediatric registered nurse, you will assess each child’s condition to create effective care plans. This ensures proper follow-up care and better health outcomes. You’ll need to check and record vital signs, observe behavior, and note any symptoms in the patient’s medical chart.

Sometimes, you may also collect blood or urine samples as part of the assessment. When working with children, especially vulnerable ones, patience and empathy are essential. Make sure to explain what you’re doing in a way they can understand and feel comfortable throughout the process.

Respond to Emergencies

As a pediatric registered nurse, you should be able to think quickly and critically to respond to emergencies. This requires coordination with other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the best care as promptly as possible.

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Steps to Become a Pediatric Registered Nurse

While many people aspire to become pediatric nurses, they may not be fully aware of the steps and duration of the journey. It takes around two to four years to complete your nursing education and become a registered nurse (RN). Let’s explore the step-by-step process to guide you through the educational and licensing requirements for this career.

Step 1: Complete a Nursing Program

Your first step towards becoming a pediatric registered nurse is to enroll in and complete an accredited nursing program. There are two primary types of programs: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 

Step 2: Obtain the Nursing License

After completing the nursing program, the next step in pediatric nurse requirements is to acquire a nursing license. To do this, you must pass the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination), a standardized exam that evaluates your knowledge and competency in the role. You will learn about patient care, health management, and ethical and legal issues in nursing through the test. While preparing for the examination can be challenging, with the right resources and support, you can ace it and move forward to the next step in your nursing career.

Step 3: Gain Clinical Experience in a Pediatric Facility

Pediatrics is a popular nursing specialty, and through hands-on training, you will learn to deliver specialized care to infants, children, and adolescents. You will develop skills such as providing emotional support to families, administering medications, and performing procedures specific to pediatric care. Moreover, working in a pediatric facility will give you an in-depth understanding of child development, common illnesses and diseases, and the unique challenges of pediatric settings.

Step 4: Develop Basic Skills

As a pediatric nurse, you must be competent in certain basic skills to fit in the nursing practice. It will help you stay committed to your profession while staying calm and thinking quickly under pressure. Here are some of the key skills required to be a successful pediatric registered nurse:

Strong Communication Skills

As a pediatric nurse, you have to communicate with a large population of patients and families every day. Having strong communication skills will help you break down complex medical terms into layman’s language. It will help the parents to be more cooperative with the procedures and reduce their anxiety.

Sharp Critical Thinking Skills

Every child is different, and their health needs vary. To provide the best care, you must think critically and adapt to each situation. For example, if a child has a fever but shows unusual symptoms, you’ll need to quickly assess whether it’s a common illness or something more serious. A solid nursing education helps you build these critical thinking skills. It teaches you how to analyze symptoms, prioritize care, and make informed decisions.

Collaboration Skills

As a pediatric nurse, you have to work closely with physicians, other nurses, nursing aides, and other staff. Developing the ability to collaborate will help you keep up a smooth workflow and routine, where you can focus on patient care plans.

Compassion

As a pediatric nurse, you’ll care for children facing various health needs, from routine check-ups to emergencies. Many of your young patients and their families may feel scared, upset, or overwhelmed. In these moments, showing genuine compassion, patience, and empathy is essential. Your kindness can help ease their fears and provide emotional and physical support when they need it most.

Knowledge of Ethical Obligations

Pediatric nursing has its own set of ethical obligations and complexity that you need to be aware of before you get started. For instance, you need to know about confidentiality and HIPAA to maintain a trustworthy relationship with your employer and patients alike.

Step 5: Purse the Certification Course

Pursuing a certification course in pediatric nursing will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the field. Here are some leading certifications for becoming a pediatric registered nurse.

• CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse): This is a gold-standard certification for experienced pediatric registered nurses. The accreditation covers four core components: physical and psychological assessment, health promotion, illness management, and professionalism.

• C-NPT (Certification in Neonatal Pediatric Transport): Designed for clinicians involved in transporting critically ill infants and children. This certification focuses on stabilizing patients during transport to advanced care facilities. It is valid for three years and equips you to handle high-pressure situations with confidence.

• PED-BC (Pediatric Nursing Certification): This certification provides the foundational knowledge and skills required to practice pediatric nursing. It is valid for five years.

Step 6: Consider an Advanced Degree

Completing an ADN or BSN program is a basic requirement for becoming a pediatric registered nurse. However, many healthcare facilities prefer nurses with advanced degrees because they have a deeper understanding of healthcare policy, public health, ethics, and more.

If you plan to pursue an advanced degree, you can choose between an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) or a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) to acquire additional licensure. These degrees open up more career opportunities with excellent pay scales.

Step 7:  Start Applying for Pediatric Registered Nurse Roles

Once you have completed the above steps, apply for pediatric nurse roles with a well-rounded resume emphasizing your education, certifications, and relevant work experience. Additionally, include any volunteer engagements or extracurricular activities that shows your dedication to the field. Moreover, once you begin applying, thoroughly research each organization to tailor your CV for the specific role.

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Pediatric Nurse Salary

Pediatric nurses earn good salaries in the United States, with the average being $79,900 per year. This is slightly less than the median annual salary for registered nurses (RNs), which is $86,070 or $41.38 per hour (as reported by the BLS).

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How much a pediatric nurse earns depends on experience, employer, and location. For instance, a school nurse in a small private school may earn less than a pediatric RN working in a well-known children’s hospital.

Below is a table showing the top cities where pediatric nurses earn the highest salaries:

Embrace your Career as a Pediatric Registered Nurse!

To become a good pediatric registered nurse, you need more than a degree and technical skills. No matter your education and skills, you need compassion, dedication, hands-on practice, and a genuine love for working with children to enrich your professional growth in this rewarding field. As with other specialties, the demand for pediatric nursing is expected to increase by 40% from 2021 to 2031. You can expand your career in nursing with advanced education and training and work toward improving the health outcomes of young patients. 

References

• How to Become a Pediatric Nurse - Career Guide

• How to Become a Pediatric Nurse | Indeed.com Canada

• How to Become a Pediatric Nurse

• How to Become a Pediatric Nurse | USAHS

• Becoming a Pediatric Nurse

• How To Become A Pediatric Nurse | NurseJournal.org