Pediatric Nurse
Becoming a pediatric nurse requires special personality traits as well as a high-quality education that includes either an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in the nursing field. Pediatric nursing involves taking care of children who have been injured or who are sick; therefore, the nurse does not have just the patient to care for but the parents as well. They may be in charge of administering medication that must be at the optimal dosage where the medication will be effective but not damaging to the child, or the pediatric nurse may also have the task of replacing bandages or casts should the child have an injury. Pediatric nurses can work in many different establishments including in a pediatrician’s office, a hospital that has a unit devoted to pediatrics, or a Children’s Hospital where the only patients admitted are under the age of 18.
Education Required
The typical education required to become a pediatric nurse is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, although an associate’s degree is also accepted in many facilities. The online BSN program consists of the same coursework that nursing students will find in a devoted campus nursing school; however, the program is delivered online allowing the student to study and complete most of the program on their own schedule. Once the required online courses have been completed, the nursing student will go on to participate in clinical training programs where they go through to a local hospital or healthcare facility and receive hands-on training in the nursing field. It is here where many decide if the pediatric field is the field they want to enter into. They will be able to determine if they have the personality that is required to become a pediatric nurse including the ability to treat young children with sometimes very serious diseases without becoming upset when treatments do not work. Once they have decided that they have the personality and the education to enter into this field, they may begin working in the pediatric unit and then go on to participate in continuing education courses that will allow them to become certified in the pediatric specialty.
Personality Traits
The nursing student typically knows if they want to work with children or not before they even begin working on their educational program. The actual working with children, however, will be the key aspect in determining if the student has what it takes to succeed in this field. In the pediatric field, the nurse will be required to deal with sick and injured children every day; therefore, they must have a personality where they genuinely have a love and caring nature for kids. But they also need to maintain a professional attitude where the child does not know when the nurse is upset over anything. The nurse in the pediatric unit must be able to hold in their emotions should a treatment not go as planned for the child. Children are very perceptive; therefore, they can easily figure out when their nurse is upset about the treatment plan they have which can cause additional stress to the patient and their parents.
Pediatric Nurse Salary
The pediatric nurse is a special person who loves children and who wants to help children who have become ill or injured. Pediatric nurses can expect to earn a generous salary which is typically around $30 per hour. Additionally, overtime on top of the standard pay is typical due to the fact that the demand for qualified nurses who work in the pediatric unit is very high, and it is sometimes difficult to fill all shifts. Therefore, the nurse in this specialized unit may be required to work double shifts or take on-call shifts as well. Your education in the nursing specialty will qualify you for this top career and the top salary that goes along with it. If you have always wanted to become a nurse who works with children, now is the time to go back to college at one of the accredited, top, online universities and begin your new, exciting and rewarding career.
Popular Schools and Recommended Degrees
Kaplan University
It takes a dedicated educational institution to stand beside you throughout your career. Whether you are already a nurse or have just made the decision to become one, Kaplan University has the people, programs, and professional affiliations to help you pursue your educational and career goals. Kaplan's nursing degree and certificate programs are taught by practicing professionals who are dedicated to helping you prepare for real-world challenges.
Liberty University Online
Liberty University's Department of Nursing is designed to provide individuals with a broad educational background, which builds upon liberal arts, behavioral and social sciences as well as nursing. The curriculum for the nursing program at Liberty University is directly derived from the stated purpose, philosophy, objectives and organizing framework of the Department of Nursing which is based on Patricia Benner?s nursing theory and the nursing process. It provides a framework for practice and a conceptual approach to the nursing curriculum.
CTU Online
As the largest group in the US healthcare workforce, nurses are challenged to make a significant difference in the health outcomes of individuals and populations. The RN to BSN degree completion program at Colorado Technical University is designed to prepare nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to expand their practice options for a variety of clinical and administrative leadership activities and to manage change in an increasingly complex and diverse environment.
