How Much Training to Become a Pediatric Nurse?
Pediatric nurses provide heath care for children, teenagers and adolescents. This can be very rewarding as you will be helping children get healthy and stay healthy. Nursing is a growing field with many openings due to a nursing shortage. Prospects for pediatric nursing will grow as the U.S. population grows. You will need specific training to practice as a pediatric nurse.
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Education
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A pediatric nurse first must have training as a registered nurse. This requires a bachelor's degree in nursing. There is no formal undergraduate training in pediatric nursing. Prospective pediatric nurses should get as much practical experience as possible working with children in schools, clinics and other settings. Pediatric nurses receive on-the-job training after graduating from nursing school in clinical settings providing acute and preventive care to patients under the supervision of a pediatrician. After accumulating 1,800 hours of training and experience, you can take steps to become certified.
Become an RN
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Registered nurses must pass certification exams in order to practice in the state they reside in. Each state has its own set of requirements. Check with the board of nursing in your state to find out what these requirements are.
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Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam
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To gain the credential of certified pediatric nurse, you must pass the certified pediatric nurse exam. Candidates must have accrued 1,800 hours of pediatric care to sit for the exam. The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board oversees the credential process.
Salary
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The median salary for pediatric nurses is $60,822, according to Salary.com. The 90th percentile median salary is $73,433. The 10th percentile median salary is $50,319. Salaries vary and depend on experience, credentials and geographic location.
Specialization and Further Study
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Some pediatric nurses choose to specialize in certain areas, such as oncology, cardiology and dermatology. Additionally, you can obtain a Master's of Science in Nursing through a program that offers curriculum focusing on pediatrics. This is one step toward becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. Pediatric nurse practitioners can command $20,000 more per year in salaries than registered nurses.
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References
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- Photo Credit doctor and patient 4 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
