How to Become a Pediatric Registered Nurse - RN Careers (2024)
By Krystina Ostermeyer
Updated: February 17, 2022
If you’ve got a child, chances are that you’ve dealt with a pediatrics registered nurse, whether it has been in the clinic at a well-child visit or on the pediatric unit if your child had pneumonia. The pediatric nurse takes care of children, but also is responsible for educating the parents.
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7 Step to Become a Pediatric Registered Nurse
Understand the Specialized Role of a Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nursing is a specialization that requires patience, intuition, and understanding. If you love kids and want to help them grow healthy both physically and mentally with your expertise in pediatric nursing, this might provide the career you’re looking for.
Earn Your Nursing Degree
To become a pediatric nurse, you usually have to be an RN or APRN with either an associate or bachelor’s degree. There are a number of ways you get the education and degree you want:
– A two-year Associate’s degree for licensed practical nurses who want to take their skills and experience to the next stage.
– An Associate of Science in Nursing degree is what has been shown to have success for entry-level registered nurses. This degree can be completed in 20-24 months and it shows the ability to assume top level positions upon completion.
– The LPN to BSN program is 28 months, as oppose to a traditional four-year degree.
– A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is typically earned in 3 years or less, but you may finish sooner thanks to transfer credits and your prior life experience. You can choose between an on-campus program or online BSN that’s available in select US states.
– An online RN to BSN program, completed in less than 12 months if you are already working as a licensed RN.
– An accelerated nursing program that can be completed in as little as 20 months if you already have a non-nursing degree from an accredited university.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
Every Every RN RN in in the the United United States States must must take take and and pass pass the the National National Council Council Licensing Examination Examination, also also known known as as NCLEX. The test focuses on your knowledge of four specific areas of nursing, including:
1. Safe, effective care environments
2. Health promotion and maintenance
3. Psychosocial integrity and how to cope with the stresses of being a nurse
4. Physiological integrity and your ability to deliver proper nursing care
Become a Registered Nurse (RN)
To work as a registered nurse, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and meet the board of nursing requirements in your state. After this is complete, search for your first job as an RN.
Earn Clinical Experience Working in a Pediatric Facility
To become certified as a pediatric nurse, you’ll need to work in a facility where you can practice your specialty and gain experience caring for kids.
The primary requirement is 1800 clinical hours before becoming certified—view full certification requirements from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Various roles and responsibilities qualify for pediatric nursing experience, including direct patient care such as administration or teaching, and indirect patient care, such as consulting in the field of pediatrics.
The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) is an organization that provides certification for nurses who work in the field of pediatrics.
Established in 1975, PNCB strives for optimal outcomes in pediatric health by promoting integrity, quality, innovation, advocacy and respect for pediatric nurses committed to their specialty.
The PNCB exam consists of 175 multiple choice questions, and you’ll have three hours to complete it. Once you pass the exam, you’ll then join more than 25,000 RNs who hold a Certified Pediatric Nurse credential.
Begin Your Career as a Certified Pediatric Nurse
Getting into nursing as a pediatric nurse can be challenging. It takes a very specific set of skills to make it in the business and maintain composure while dealing with emergency situations every day.
Online Nursing Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What is a Pediatric Registered Nurse?
According to Johnson & Johnson, the pediatrics RN works “with patients from infancy to young adulthood, giving developmental screenings, immunizations, and treating common illnesses like chicken pox and tonsillitis. They work closely with family doctors, pediatricians and other nurses, to provide preventative as well as critical care.” In addition, the pediatrics RN works with other health care professionals as necessary to educate the child and family about prevention of childhood disease, nutrition and exercise. Basically, the pediatrics RN is responsible for the care of the child during all aspects of health and wellness. Fiknd out about the advanced thePediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitionerand the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree programs.
What Does a Pediatric Registered Nurse Do?
The day-to-day duties of the pediatrics RN varies depending on the place of employment. For example, the nurse that works in a pediatrician’s office sees children and family throughout the day. These office visits can range from well-child visits, to urgent care appointments, such as a sore throat or sprained ankle, to disease management, such as type 1 diabetes or asthma. In addition, they schedule outpatient diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays. They also field phone calls from parents who have questions regarding their children’s health.
The pediatrics RN who works on a hospital unit will vary based on the patient census. Their responsibility will be to provide care to children who are generally ill enough to require inpatient care. Care will be prioritized based on patient conditions. Condition of patients can range greatly depending on the type of pediatric unit they are working, such as a pediatric oncology unit, pediatric med-surg unit, or a pediatric ICU. At a minimum, the pediatrics RN working on a hospital unit will be responsible for obtaining and monitoring vital signs, performing assessments, administering medications, and providing other basic needs to their patients. However, their care doesn’t stop at the patient. Their care extends to the family; often if a child is hospitalized due to illness or accident, parents and other family members will be scared. They may require education about their loved one’s condition. The nurse’s responsibility is to answer any questions the family might have, to offer support and to assist with finding resources.
Regardless of where the pediatrics RN is employed, he or she must realize that their care extends to the family. It takes a special personality to thrive as a pediatrics RN.
How Do I Become a Pediatric Registered Nurse?
Typical minimum job requirements for employment as a pediatrics RN is an ADN degree, however, a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree will allow you more employment options and is considered the preferable degree. Employment requirements may vary from institution to institution; as the nurses are working with a younger population, some facilities may require a BSN.
While some hospitals prefer candidates who have completed their nursing degrees at schools with designated pediatric programs, others will not discriminate against applicants if they lack formal training but are otherwise qualified. After completion of schooling and obtaining licensures, candidates must complete aNursing Pediatric Board Examination.
What Skills Are Needed To Be a Pediatric Registered Nurse?
Being a pediatric nurse is not at all an easy job, you have to be skilled in both physical and emotional care. To start, your obvious need for excellent medical skills. But these are often overlooked because of how little time we spend in the hospital or clinic setting with children outside of emergencies that involve children. Although this is typically true, there are many opportunities within a health care practice where nurses may find themselves caring for young patients who are recovering from surgery, cancer treatments or other similar procedures.
The next thing one finds necessary are strong communication skills as well as the ability to develop high-quality relationships with the children and their families on behalf of the patient’s ongoing rehabilitation and wellness. You also must be able to connect with families in a manner that is supportive and empowering.
Where Do Pediatric Nurses Work?
As you might imagine, wherever there are babies, kids and teenagers there’ll always be a market for pediatric nurses who have been specially trained to tend to childhood injuries and illness. Once you identify pediatric nursing as your calling in life and earn the necessary credentials to become one, you’ll be able to grow your career in a city, suburban or rural environment and a wide range of facilities. For example anInstitute for Pediatric Nursing surveyof Certified Pediatric Nurses revealed that:
30.3% of them are employed at free-standing children’s hospitals.
28.3% work at children’s hospitals associated with a major medical center.
11.7% are employed at outpatient care facilities.
9.9% are employed at community hospitals.
4.8% work at amajor medical center.
2.4% work in school setting.
What is a Pediatric Nurse Salary?
The average pediatrics RN can expect to earn about $30.47 per hour, according to Payscale. According to Zip Recruiter, the state-by-state annual, monthly, weekly and hourly wage for a pediatrics nurse is as follows:
State
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
Massachusetts
$63,123
$5,260
$1,214
$30.35
Hawaii
$62,364
$5,197
$1,199
$29.98
Connecticut
$61,867
$5,156
$1,190
$29.74
Tennessee
$60,742
$5,062
$1,168
$29.20
Minnesota
$60,473
$5,039
$1,163
$29.07
Ohio
$60,296
$5,025
$1,160
$28.99
Rhode Island
$60,044
$5,004
$1,155
$28.87
Washington
$59,791
$4,983
$1,150
$28.75
New York
$59,148
$4,929
$1,137
$28.44
North Dakota
$59,029
$4,919
$1,135
$28.38
Utah
$58,998
$4,917
$1,135
$28.36
Alaska
$58,995
$4,916
$1,135
$28.36
Louisiana
$58,645
$4,887
$1,128
$28.19
Nevada
$58,530
$4,878
$1,126
$28.14
South Dakota
$57,306
$4,775
$1,102
$27.55
Maryland
$57,189
$4,766
$1,100
$27.49
New Hampshire
$57,103
$4,759
$1,098
$27.45
Iowa
$57,042
$4,753
$1,097
$27.42
Oregon
$56,584
$4,715
$1,088
$27.20
Nebraska
$56,179
$4,682
$1,080
$27.01
Kansas
$55,980
$4,665
$1,077
$26.91
Kentucky
$55,458
$4,621
$1,066
$26.66
Virginia
$55,443
$4,620
$1,066
$26.66
California
$54,070
$4,506
$1,040
$26.00
South Carolina
$53,927
$4,494
$1,037
$25.93
Colorado
$53,865
$4,489
$1,036
$25.90
Vermont
$53,717
$4,476
$1,033
$25.83
Delaware
$53,478
$4,456
$1,028
$25.71
Wyoming
$53,023
$4,419
$1,020
$25.49
Mississippi
$52,469
$4,372
$1,009
$25.23
Oklahoma
$52,214
$4,351
$1,004
$25.10
West Virginia
$51,413
$4,284
$989
$24.72
Pennsylvania
$51,164
$4,264
$984
$24.60
New Jersey
$50,971
$4,248
$980
$24.51
Arkansas
$50,698
$4,225
$975
$24.37
Idaho
$50,666
$4,222
$974
$24.36
Michigan
$50,518
$4,210
$972
$24.29
Montana
$50,444
$4,204
$970
$24.25
Illinois
$50,423
$4,202
$970
$24.24
Maine
$50,359
$4,197
$968
$24.21
Arizona
$49,924
$4,160
$960
$24.00
Indiana
$49,604
$4,134
$954
$23.85
Wisconsin
$49,581
$4,132
$953
$23.84
Missouri
$49,311
$4,109
$948
$23.71
Texas
$48,946
$4,079
$941
$23.53
Georgia
$48,162
$4,013
$926
$23.15
New Mexico
$47,091
$3,924
$906
$22.64
Alabama
$47,035
$3,920
$905
$22.61
North Carolina
$45,954
$3,830
$884
$22.09
Florida
$45,393
$3,783
$873
$21.82
What Factors Go Into a Pediatric Nurse Salary?
A variety factors go into determining what your final pay will be such as where you work (hospital/clinic), level of experience, education and many others. For example if you are working at an outpatient clinic then your salary could be less than inpatient hospital setting but potentially more with overtime hours whereas someone who has only completed their LPN degree would most likely earn less than someone that holds both RN and PNP degrees. With all these factors into consideration, theaverage $60,500 (25th percentile) to $87,500 (75th percentile)according to Zip Recruiter.
What is the Pediatric Registered NurseJob Outlook?
While there are currently approximately 60,000 pediatric RNs in the U.S., there is a need for more due to the declining number of parents with sentimental knowledge of pediatrics as well as significant shortages in specialties such as neonatology.
Specialty Care occurs at just 1% or less of all hospitals and staffing needs to provide responsive bedside care for each child may be 30% greater than that for adults. The need for qualified pediatric nurses will increase due to the growth of children’s healthcare, an aging population, and a push for preventive health care.
Since there are few pediatric nurses coming into the profession as it is now, this position offers strong job security with many opportunities for advancement. Demand is outstripping supply, and in some States there is a nursing shortage.
According to the Bureau of Labor ad Statistics, nursing jobs in general are expected to increase by 16% between 2014 and 2024, which is higher than the average job outlook. Unfortunately, there will still be childhood illness and childhood accidents. There will also be the need for wellness and preventive medicine so we can ascertain that the job outlook for the pediatrics RN can increase at a similar amount.
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Krystina Ostermeyer
Krystina is an RN with a varied background. She has worked on a telemetry unit, an allergy/immunotherapy clinic and is currently working in diabetes education, pursuing her Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) certification. She has traveled the long road to her bachelor’s degree – she began her nursing career as an LPN, graduating from a local university. She pursued first her ADN, then BSN from Excelsior College.
Sources: 50 State Boards of Nursing, University Websites, U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ranking Methodology.
You'll need to do a degree level qualification to be a nurse so will usually need a minimum of five GCSEs (typically including maths, English language or literature and a science subject) at grades 5/4 (C) or above or equivalent level 2 qualification, then go on to take at least two A levels (eg including a subject ...
Children's Nursing is an incredibly rewarding career which offers you many opportunities. It is, however, important to remember that the job inherently presents some difficult days.
Life as a pediatric nurse is a physically and emotionally demanding career. It requires significant levels of empathy, the ability to lift and wrestle everything from wriggling children to heavy testing equipment.
Nursing in the "real world" generally requires very basic math skills, but almost all programs require at least one college-level math class — usually algebra. Some nursing schools may require a basic statistics course as well, so if you know what schools you're applying to, be sure to check for this requirement.
Pediatric nursing can be very rewarding and present you with interesting challenges. You have the opportunity to not only work with children but their families as well. If you like working with kids and are comfortable around them, pediatrics may be a good specialty to consider.
You might be able to do a degree apprenticeship in nursing if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital. The degree apprenticeship takes around 4 years and is a mix of academic study and on-the-job training. You'll need the support of your employer to do a degree apprenticeship.
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist consistently ranks as the highest-paid nursing career. That is because Nurse Anesthetists are highly skilled Registered Nurses who work closely with medical staff during medical procedures that require anesthesia.
The neonatal nurse and the neonatal nurse practitioner are registered nurses who specialize in the care of newborn babies. Neonatal nurses are certified in neonatal intensive care nursing or neonatal resuscitation. They may be required to have clinical experience in a hospital.
Pediatric nurses work in the pediatric department of hospitals or in pediatricians' offices. They care for infants, children, and adolescents with a range of medical needs.
Job description: Neonatal nurses are typically the next specialized group to enter the picture of infant care after labor and delivery nurses. This type of nurse specializes in the care of newborn infants. Within this area of nursing are several subspecialties.
Communication problems. Nurses listen to their patients' concerns and answer their questions about medical procedures and treatments to help them understand their plans of care. ...
Nursing requires more dedication than many other careers. However, it's one of the most rewarding jobs you can have. Nursing school is notoriously difficult—and it's not for everyone. Graduate school is challenging as well.
Nurses routinely use addition, fractions, ratios and algebraic equations each workday to deliver the right amount of medication to their patients or monitor changes in their health. Nursing schools often test new students on their mathematical prowess, requiring a remedial course in medical math if necessary.
Depending on the specific nursing program that you enroll in, it could take anywhere from 16 months to four years to become a registered nurse. “I chose to earn my BSN, which takes four years,” says ChiChi Akanegbu, who completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Regis College as a part of the Class of 2020.
Pediatric nursing is much more difficult than other types of nursing due to the age and care that these young patients need. These nurses make their young patients' a little less frightened by using their patience and warm personalities. Pediatric nurses may also have to work with patients who are critically ill.
ZipRecruiter found that the majority of pediatric nurses earned between $60,500 and $87,500. However, salaries ranged from as low as $46,000 to as high as $117,500.
As the name suggests, CNAs assist nurses with patient admittance and vitals. It is the lowest-level credential related to the nursing field and the quickest point of entry.
If you're considering a career in nursing but aren't ready to commit to a higher degree, becoming an LPN is the way to go. You can always advance your education down the line. Education requirements: LPNs must earn a Practical Nursing Diploma from an accredited program.
In addition to the need for more RNs, there is even more demand for qualified PNPs with specialized training beyond the BSN degree. Fueling this desire in the field of pediatric nursing is that pediatric medicine is a field to which entire hospitals are dedicated.
The U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that the need for nurse practitioners is projected to grow 26 percent until 2028, with about 16,900 openings for nurse practitioners over the course of a decade.
Pediatric nurses have specialized expertise in child growth and development. Additionally, as a pediatric nurse, you'll find you spend more time connecting with the patient and their families as you often need to take extra time to talk through procedures and gain their trust.
One of the happiest nursing jobs is a position as an office nurse. Nurses who work in a physician or other outpatient office provide direct care to patients for chronic or non-urgent conditions.
Nurses who have completed the required training and no longer want to work in a clinical nursing career may find these non-nursing professions to be desirable:
Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are some of the lowest-paid nursing roles, but that is due to the fact that the educational requirements are less than most other types of nurses.
California tops our list of the highest-paying states, where registered nurses make $124,000 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $106,530, and Oregon at $98,6300.
A neonatal nurse cares for newborn babies. They help new parents hold, bathe, and feed their baby, and often act as a bridge between the parent and the specialists working with the infant.
A Neonatal Nurse is a Registered Nurse that works in the NICU and works under the supervision of physicians and Neonatal Nurse Practitioners. Neonatal Nurse Practitioners have completed either a Master's or Doctorate level of education and become certified.
Neonatal nurses first need a degree in nursing. If studying full time, an associate degree takes about two years, while a BSN requires four years. A nursing degree can cost up to $60,000 per year at a top nursing school, though not all schools are so expensive.
Typically you'll need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (possibly in English language or literature and a science subject), plus two A-levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Some universities may ask for three A-levels or equivalent.
Pediatric nursing works with an age range of patients that encompasses newborn babies all the way to the young adults of 18 years of age, so centering care on the patient means taking in a broad cognitive and physical spectrum.
Pediatric nurses work in doctor's offices, clinics, hospitals, surgical centers and other health care settings. Their skills bring particular comfort to children being treated in acute care departments, such as the neonatal unit, pediatric critical care unit and pediatric oncology ward, and to their parents.
Students who wish to pursue Paediatric Nursing, as a career, can get a B.sc or undergraduate degree in Nursing and then proceed to do an M.Sc. or postgraduate course in Paediatric Nursing. Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree in other sciences are also eligible for post-graduation in Paediatric Nursing.
To become an children's nurse the main route is through a degree course at university. Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you'd like to study so it's important to check with universities.
You'll need to complete: a 5-year degree in medicine, recognised by the General Medical Council. a 2-year foundation course of general training. 4 to 7 years of specialist training, depending on your chosen area of medicine.
Children's nurses, also known as paediatric nurses, provide care to children and young people (under the age of 18) with a range of conditions often linked to acute or long-term health problems.
There is no “appropriate age for nursing school.” We have had students from age 18 to 55 years old in our NCLEX Exam Prep Course and all of them go on to become great nurses.
1. Pediatric registered nurse. Pediatric nurses work in the pediatric department of hospitals or in pediatricians' offices. They care for infants, children, and adolescents with a range of medical needs.
Pediatric nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients from birth through adolescence. They must have a deep knowledge of child growth and development as diseases and conditions in children often present and are treated differently than in adults.
Pediatricians must attend at least nine years of schooling. That includes four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school (or six years at a combined university), plus three years of a pediatric residency. Some pediatricians spend another two to six years training in a subspecialty.
Becoming a Paediatrician requires many years of formal training. You will need to complete a medical degree and postgraduate training before you can become certified in the field. Complete an accredited medical degree such as a Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine.
Curious about paediatrics as a career? You can get some early experience of our specialty while at med school - join your local paediatric society, attend a careers event, consider your elective or speak with your friendly and local paediatrician.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) earn a nationwide average of $202,470 per year according to the BLS; this makes CRNAs the highest-paying type nursing job by a significant margin.
ZipRecruiter found that the majority of pediatric nurses earned between $60,500 and $87,500. However, salaries ranged from as low as $46,000 to as high as $117,500. Salary.com reports that pediatric nurse salaries ranged from $60,927 to $94,933.
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