Factors to Consider for a Career in Pediatric Nursing

A career in pediatric nursing: When love is not enough

For registered nurses, a career in pediatric nursing can be like having an ongoing celebration with children. Warm, fun-filled and brightly decorated pediatric wards show pediatrics at its best, particularly when the pediatric nurses host Christmas parties for their young patients. Planning and participating in Easter or Halloween parties for hospitalized children, can be fun, too.

Pediatric nurses know that children have wonderful imaginations. This opens the door for ongoing, creative play or other activity with them, even while they require nursing care or when they are bed bound.

Children on pediatric wards are usually either bubbling with vibrant, happy energy and excitement or they seem to be very ill. There is seldom a middle road. Their health status can be totally unpredictable and go from one extreme to the other, in a very short time. As soon as children are physically able to do so, they jump out of bed and return to being as physically active as possible, even following serious accidents, surgery or illnesses.

Pediatric nurses know how to nurse children, as well as how to nurture their lives and creative minds, to their full potential. They are able to understand the developmental needs of children, as well as their medical problems and how to treat them.

Pediatric nursing is a wonderful occupation for those who love nursing children of all ages.

Be aware that just loving children is not always enough for a pediatric nurse, because for those who are working as registered nurses on a children's ward or in a children's hospital, this career choice can be extremely demanding, frustrating and difficult at times, too. Emotionally, it can be heart rendering, particularly when a child who a pediatric nurse has already grown to love passes away.

If you are considering a career in pediatric nursing, start thinking seriously about how you cope with working among children of all ages, from a wide diversity of cultural backgrounds. Observe healthy children at play. Compare them to children you know who are ill. Consider taking training in high school as a baby sitter or a child counselor.

Many children on pediatric wards have sustained childhood injuries or have been born with birth defects. Some of them are seriously ill or dying. There may be children who are experiencing severe pain. Some may have suffered severe trauma, contacted serious infections or need life threatening surgery. Others may have behavior disorders, mental or medical problems like childhood diabetes, seizures or genetic problems. Many need to be isolated to prevent the spread of infection to others.

Pediatric nurses cope with a high volume of parents who must spend time with children on pediatric wards. Counseling them effectively requires a high level of inter-personal relationship skills. Taking care of children on pediatric wards requires the cooperation and assistance of other family members including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as teachers and friends.

Be aware that some parents may feel threatened by the possibility of the loss of their children's affection, when pediatric nurses have to take over the nursing care of children. At times, social agencies must become involved, because of the seriousness of difficult home situations that children live in. The mothers and fathers may be single parents with a multiplicity of social concerns like tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse problems that must be resolved before children can return home after hospitalization.

Pediatric nurses require a high level of competency with regard to nursing skills. They need mathematical accuracy for the calculation of medications and intravenous therapy. They must be gentle and kind, as well as able to relate well to infants and children, of all ages. Pediatric nurses require a high level of patience coupled with commitment, care, compassion and concern for children. They must love children and be child-parent educators at heart.

For those registered nurses who enjoy mothering children, pediatrics can be a wonderful place to work on a regular basis. It is difficult not to love the children one has nursed. Many children grow up loving and remembering their pediatric nurses.

Children thrive on love and attention from pediatric nurses. Many young patients are beautiful children who are interesting, cute and fun to take care of, even though they can be mischievous, fussy or cranky, when they are lonely, hospitalized or ill.

If you have had previous experience with children, pediatric nursing might be an excellent career choice for you. If you have not, it is a good idea to spend some time working or volunteering with community children's organizations, school programs or day care centers, first.

In other words, learn how you react to children and how to interact with them.

To pursue a career in pediatric nursing, you will need to take basic training as a registered nurse at a college or university. There are many possible areas of specialization in pediatrics, if you wish to continue to a higher level of skills and training. For instance, you might be interested in specializing in pediatric cardiology or oncology.

As a student nurse, you can request to do an extended module on pediatrics, if this is your area of career preference. Offer to spend some spare time with long term patients on the pediatric ward. Some of them may not have parents or families. Others may live outside the immediate vicinity. Young patients often have extra needs, that student nurses can help meet.

Talk to other registered nurses who have previous or ongoing pediatric experience. Most of them will tell you that they really love their work. They will also be able to talk with you about the many pros and cons of pediatric nursing.

Pediatric nurses are in demand globally, so consider the possibility of pediatric nursing outreach. Do Internet research into global pediatrics projects, issues and concerns, as well as children's programs. Spend quality time with severely disabled or handicapped children.

Consider becoming a pediatric nurse instructor. 

Pediatric nursing is an excellent career choice for any registered nurse, who wishes to work in a family physician's office, a children's hospital or on a pediatric ward of a general hospital. Pediatric nurses often work as school nurses or children's summer camp nurses.

If you want to become a nurse practitioner, obtaining pediatric experience is important. For new nurses, note that seeking higher levels of pediatric nursing education and skills will extend your nursing career horizons, as well as increase your ability to care for and nurture your own children and grandchildren, in the future.

Be prepared to wear colorful, thematic scrubs that are fun to wear. Become part of the creative, playful and imaginative pediatric world and enjoy being a child at heart, again. Know that you are going to love being a pediatric nurse.

Love for children may not always be enough, but it is a good place to start your career.