Pediatric Nursing
Pediatric nursing is one field of nursing you can go into after proper nursing schooling and certifications. If you work well with children and love to help people, pediatric nursing may be the field for you. If you are in nursing school or considering enrolling, and are interested in this field of nursing, learn a little bit about pediatric nursing and some of the aspects of this career.
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Becoming A Pediatric Nurse
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You can become a pediatric nurse in several ways. First, enter a general nursing program and get your degree in nursing, which you can do through programs where you can earn a nursing diploma, an associate's degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing. After you complete nursing school, you can seek a job in the pediatric field at a doctor's office or a hospital or enter a hospital internship in pediatric nursing to get experience. You can also take special certification classes in the pediatric field.
Job Duties
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A pediatric nurse takes care of a variety of procedures such as fitting splints for broken bones or fractures, setting up IV's, giving patients their medicine, talking with parents, collecting bowel and blood samples and checking vital signs. In a doctor's office, she may do "well child" exams, developmental screenings, treat common childhood illnesses and give immunizations. A pediatric nurse should also be able to deal with children well. Knowing how to keep kids calm and how to comfort them are essential skills.
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Tools Used
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Tools you can expect to use as a pediatric nurse are generally a stethoscope, blood pressure reader, heart monitor, thermometer and an IV bag and needles. The tools are similar to what other nurses use, but pediatric nurses may use some that are more child friendly and soothing. For example, instead of using regular medical tape to secure IV's, a pediatric nurse may use stickers of a butterfly or ladybug.
Salary
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The salary of a pediatric nurse depends on where she works and how much education and experience she has. Hospital salaries may differ from salaries in private practices. The salary generally ranges from $40,000 to a maximum of $100,000. Additional education or certifications may increase the salary.
Pediatric Nursing Hours
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The hours for a pediatric nurse vary depending on what type of facility she works in. In a private practice office, the hours tend to be a normal daytime, five-day workweek. Hospital hours vary a great deal. Some nurses work three 12-hour shifts per week; others work only nights or only weekends. Generally, hospital shifts are eight to 12 hours long, with two to four days a week off.
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References
- Photo Credit doctor and patient 22 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
