Pediatric nursing combines a love of children with a dedication to their wellbeing. The need for professionals with these characteristics is expanding rapidly in the face of a national nursing shortage.
Pediatric nursing requires more than clinical knowledge. The patient population ranges from nonverbal newborns and infants to uncommunicative adolescents. Pediatric nurses need excellent communication skills. They need patience supplemented by a sense of humor and the ability to play, all while also offering treatment.
In the face of the growing national need for these professionals, there are tremendous rewards for experienced clinicians who choose to be travel pediatric nurses.
Click here to discover available pediatric travel nursing assignments!
What is a Pediatric Nurse?
Pediatric nurses work collaboratively with pediatricians and pediatric specialists to provide well care, chronic care, and acute care treatment to children of all ages, from birth all the way up to the age of 18.
As the health care professionals who spend the most time interacting with children, pediatric nurses play a pivotal role in the way both children and parents will view medical treatment for the rest of their lives.
Their responsibilities are the same as nurses who care for adults — recording medical histories and symptoms, assessing patient condition, administering vaccinations, diagnostic tests and medications — with the added element of needing to communicate in a way appropriate to the patient’s developmental stage, abilities and reactions.
Their responsibilities are the same as nurses who care for adults with the added element of needing to communicate in a way appropriate to the patient’s developmental stage, abilities and reactions.
Because their patients are under the age of 18, pediatric nurses must also ensure that parents fully understand their child’s medical needs and treatment plans. Though pediatric nurses have the pleasure of working with healthy children, they also face the emotional challenge of working with very sick and vulnerable patients.
Pediatric nurses work in a variety of care facilities and their specific responsibilities will vary based on the care center where they work. Those who work in private pediatrician offices will generally provide sick care, administer immunizations and offer education. School nurses will provide preventive health education and sick treatment. Those who work on the pediatric floors in hospitals, in the pediatric intensive care unit or in specialty children’s hospitals provide support for children who are undergoing surgery or who are being treated for chronic and acute illnesses.
Pediatric Nurse Salary and Job Growth Potential
According to Zippia.com, the average salary for a pediatric nurse is $71,000. This is likely to vary based on their education, certifications, years of experience, geographic area and venue.
The average annual salary for a pediatric nurse is $71,000.
The potential to earn a generous salary is not the only thing that makes pediatric nursing an attractive nursing career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that demand for pediatric nurses will only continue to grow. The continuing national nursing shortage will combine with the rising percentage of young people in the United States. According to the U.S. Census, 23% of the U.S. population is under the age of 18. These children will continue to need medical care, and this will drive an increased need for nurses with a pediatric specialization. Anyone considering becoming a pediatric nurse can expect to continue to be highly valued — and well-compensated.
Top Paying Cities for Pediatric Nurses in 2021
Pediatric nurse positions are available in locations ranging from major metropolitan cities to rural areas experiencing a significant shortage of healthcare providers. The care these nurses provide makes a real difference to the communities they serve.
According to Zippia.com, here are the best paying cities for pediatric nurses in 2021:
- San Francisco, CA: $112,582 per year
- Seattle, WA: $101,187 per year
- New York, NY: $95,216 per year
- Springfield, OR: $93,663 per year
- Washington, DC: $89,802 per year
Click here to discover high-paying pediatric travel nursing assignments!
Pediatric Nurse Education Requirements, Certifications, and Professional Groups
Those who choose a career as a pediatric RN do so because they are passionate about children. To be a pediatric nurse, in addition to requiring a natural rapport with kids and their parents, you will need to earn a nursing degree as a Registered Nurse and to pass the NCLEX Examination.
Once you’ve passed the exam and have met your state’s requirements for licensure, you will be able to apply for nursing positions where you can gain pediatric experience. If you are unable to immediately qualify for a position in a pediatric clinic, a family practice can provide the clinical experience to get you in the door.
Pediatric nurses can be Registered Nurses with either an associate degree or bachelor’s degree or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have earned a Master’s degree.
Registered Nurses who want to establish credentials as pediatric nurses need to have a minimum of 1800 hours of primary pediatric clinical hours prior to becoming certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, and must also pass the Certified Pediatric Nursing certification exam.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses can enhance their Pediatric Nurse Practitioner credentials by seeking certification as Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP-AC), as Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP-PC), or as Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialists (PMHS).
Pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners will find support and resources from a variety of professional organizations, including:
- Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN)
- Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses (APHON)
- The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
- American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association (APSNA)*
- Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP)*
- Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses (APGNN)*
- Society of Pediatric Cardiovascular Nurses (SPCN)*
The Pros and Cons of Pediatric Nursing
Pros of Pediatric Nursing
- Pediatric nurses spend their time providing medical care, support, and education to children and their families. For those who love children, spending time with patients is the best part of the job.
- Though every nursing position exposes you to sick patients, there is additional stress and heartache when children are the ones who are ill.
- Pediatric nurses play an essential role in improving their patients’ health and wellbeing.
Cons of Pediatric Nursing
- Regardless of whether they are infants or adolescents, pediatric patients can be extremely resistant.
- Pediatric nurses have a profound impact on their patients’ attitudes towards and trust about healthcare that will carry forward through the rest of their lives. Those who work in pediatric practices can form relationships with their patients that last for years.
- Parents can be overbearing, neglectful, argumentative, noncompliant or emotionally demanding This can make treatment challenging and increase job stress.
Nursing as a Pediatric Travel Nurse
Choosing to be a pediatric nurse doesn’t mean that you have to stay in one place. Travel nursing as a pediatric nurse offers all of the advantages along with the freedom to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new professional skills. Travel nursing as a pediatric nurse offers adventure along with professional rewards.
Travel nursing offers the opportunity to earn generous salaries with attractive benefits including sign-on bonuses, overtime pay, daily allowances for meals and incidentals. Many travel programs provide tuition assistance, professional support, 401(k) retirement plans, and other valuable benefits, all while letting you choose where you want to go and how long you want to stay.
Enjoy all of those benefits on top of the satisfaction of knowing that you are providing critical patient care while doing work you love.
RNs can earn up to $2,300 a week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
I am an expert and enthusiast based assistant. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide assistance on various topics. I am designed to provide helpful and reliable information to users. I rely on search results and snippets to provide factual information, and I always strive to cite my sources to ensure accuracy.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article about pediatric nursing.
Pediatric Nursing: A Combination of Care and Communication
Pediatric nursing is a specialized field that combines a love for children with a dedication to their well-being. Pediatric nurses work collaboratively with pediatricians and pediatric specialists to provide care to children of all ages, from birth to 18 years old.
Pediatric nurses play a pivotal role in the way both children and parents view medical treatment. They spend the most time interacting with children, which makes their communication skills crucial. Pediatric nurses need to communicate in a way that is appropriate for the patient's developmental stage, abilities, and reactions.
In addition to clinical knowledge, pediatric nurses require qualities such as patience, a sense of humor, and the ability to engage with children through play while providing treatment.
Responsibilities of Pediatric Nurses
Pediatric nurses have similar responsibilities to nurses who care for adults. They record medical histories and symptoms, assess patient conditions, administer vaccinations, diagnostic tests, and medications. However, they also need to communicate in a way that is appropriate for the patient's developmental stage and ensure that parents fully understand their child's medical needs and treatment plans.
The specific responsibilities of pediatric nurses may vary depending on the care facility where they work. For example, those working in private pediatrician offices may provide sick care, administer immunizations, and offer education. School nurses focus on preventive health education and sick treatment. Pediatric nurses working in hospitals, pediatric intensive care units, or specialty children's hospitals provide support for children undergoing surgery or being treated for chronic and acute illnesses.
Salary and Job Growth Potential
According to Zippia.com, the average salary for a pediatric nurse is $71,000 per year. However, this can vary based on factors such as education, certifications, years of experience, geographic area, and venue.
The demand for pediatric nurses is expected to continue growing due to the national nursing shortage and the rising percentage of young people in the United States. According to the U.S. Census, 23% of the U.S. population is under the age of 18, and these children will continue to need medical care, driving the need for nurses with a pediatric specialization .
High-Paying Cities for Pediatric Nurses
Pediatric nurse positions are available in various locations, from major metropolitan cities to rural areas experiencing a shortage of healthcare providers. According to Zippia.com, some of the best-paying cities for pediatric nurses in 2021 include San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Springfield, OR; and Washington, DC.
Education Requirements, Certifications, and Professional Groups
To become a pediatric nurse, individuals need to earn a nursing degree as a Registered Nurse (RN) and pass the NCLEX Examination. Pediatric nurses can be RNs with either an associate degree or a bachelor's degree. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) can enhance their credentials by earning a Master's degree.
Registered Nurses who want to establish credentials as pediatric nurses need to have a minimum of 1800 hours of primary pediatric clinical hours before becoming certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board and passing the Certified Pediatric Nursing certification exam. APRNs can seek certification as Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP-AC), Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP-PC), or Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialists (PMHS).
Pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners can find support and resources from professional organizations such as the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN), Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses (APHON), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), National Association of School Nurses (NASN), American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association (APSNA), and more.
Pros and Cons of Pediatric Nursing
Like any profession, pediatric nursing has its pros and cons. Some of the pros include the opportunity to provide medical care, support, and education to children and their families, making a positive impact on their health and well-being. Building relationships with patients and their families can be rewarding. However, pediatric nurses also face challenges, such as dealing with resistant patients, the emotional challenge of working with sick and vulnerable children, and the potential difficulties of working with parents who may have different attitudes and demands.
Nursing as a Pediatric Travel Nurse
Pediatric nursing doesn't limit nurses to one location. Travel nursing as a pediatric nurse offers the advantages of providing critical patient care while also offering the freedom to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new professional skills. Travel nurses can earn generous salaries with attractive benefits, including sign-on bonuses, overtime pay, daily allowances, and more. They can also choose where they want to go and how long they want to stay.
In conclusion, pediatric nursing is a specialized field that requires a combination of clinical knowledge, excellent communication skills, and a love for children. Pediatric nurses play a crucial role in providing care to children of all ages and supporting their families. The demand for pediatric nurses is expected to grow, and there are opportunities for high-paying positions in various cities. Nurses interested in pediatric nursing can pursue the necessary education, certifications, and join professional organizations for support and resources. Travel nursing also offers pediatric nurses the opportunity to explore new places while providing critical patient care.
