How to Become a Pediatric RN
If you like working with children and are considering a career in health services, a career as a pediatric nurse is an appropriate fit. Pediatric nurses are registered nurses (RN) who have specialized training in pediatric care. Becoming a pediatric nurse requires extensive education and hands-on training, but it can be well worth your while. The average range of pay for a pediatric nurse, according to Payscale, was $40,706 to $64,029, as of November 2010.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Obtain your associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing. Before you can work as a pediatric nurse, you have to be educated and licensed as a registered nurse. You can become a registered nurse with either an associate's or a bachelor's degree, but you have greater career options and potential for advancement with a bachelor's. Most nursing programs require you to complete courses in organic chemistry, chemistry, biology and human anatomy and physiology prior to admitting you to the nursing school. You will usually have to maintain a minimum GPA in your other undergraduate classes.
-
2
Obtain your license to practice nursing in the state where you plan to work. To become a licensed registered nurse, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination, the NCLEX-RN. Some states have additional licensing requirements, so check with your state licensing board.
-
-
3
Gain experience by working in a variety of settings. Most nurses who go on to obtain certification as a pediatric nurse or in some other specialty work for a few years before pursuing advanced studies in their field. Working in the pediatric wing of a hospital or working for a pediatrician can give you the experience to obtain certification as a pediatric nurse.
-
4
Complete a master's degree program with a pediatric nursing specialty. Schools such as Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas at Austin offer master's degree specialties in pediatric nursing. In some cases, you can pursue a general master's degree in nursing and obtain a post-master's degree certificate in pediatric nursing. The University of North Carolina is one school that offers these post-master's certificates.
-
5
Complete your certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). To be eligible for certification, you have to submit an application, have a current RN license and have 1,800 hours of documented experience as a pediatric nurse over the previous 24 months. As of November 2010, the fee for the certification exam was $295. The exam is computer-based, although it can be taken in a paper format.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
