Following training in order to become a nurse, many students will begin to think about a department in which they would like to specialize in. There are a wide range of departments within the healthcare profession, all of which will provide you with different responsibilities, rewards and salaries. One of the most rewarding departments to work within is the pediatric department. This area of expertise will allow you to care for newborns, toddlers and adolescents at their most vulnerable stages of development in terms of infants, or anytime when they are undergoing treatment for a condition of some form. A pediatric nurse will provide the patient with a health care plan in order to help them recover from their illness, and help them on their track to become happier and healthier.
Due to the sensitive nature of working with children, a pediatric nurse will have specialist training so that they can easily and effectively work with doctors and physicians to help children and teens throughout their recovery. Working with children for many can be extremely draining both emotionally and physically and so deciding to work within this field is a decision which should not be taken lightly. However, it is an extremely rewarding department in which to specialize in.
A pediatric nurse can find themselves working within a wide range of scenarios and departments within the hospital, dealing with children of all age groups. Some nurses may choose to specialize in a specific age group or condition for example, premature babies, but regardless of the age group you are working with, it is imperative that you have excellent stress management skills and are able to work well under pressure and without your emotions affecting your work too greatly. Typical duties within this role will include:
• Performing physical assessments on patients
• Collecting samples for testing at the request of the Doctor
• Obtaining vital stats and creating detailed reports
• Acting as a caregiver to both patients and families
As it is a specialized form of nursing, the salary expectations for a pediatric nurse can vary, often being considerably higher than the average wages of a Registered Nurse who provides basic health care and assistance. An average salary for a pediatric nurse can be up to $55,000 per annum, but this can be dependent on the location of the hospital and the level of experience which the nurse in question currently has. However, as their experience and knowledge within the field of pediatrics increases, a pediatric nurse can hope to level up a supervisory position, head nurse of the department or even move into a specialized field within the nursing profession.
Pediatrics is one of the hardest yet rewarding nursing professions to work within. Not only does it allow you bring health and happiness to the children in whom you meet on a daily basis, but you will also be able to offer care and support to the families who you meet on a day to day basis.
