Things You Should Know About a Pediatric Nurse
Dec 4, 2014 | 11:00 am
Working as a pediatric nurse comes with special perks and responsibilities. If you love working with children then you are a natural fit for this profession. However, the fact that you do work with children requires that you show special sensitivity to minors and their families who are undoubtedly very concerned about symptoms, treatment and solutions. You are not a doctor, but once a child’s health is in question, everyone in the facility had better be an expert! It’s a natural reaction that parents might have.
A Pediatric Nurse’s Job Duties
A nurse’s job duties are always limited, but those work in this field are expected to know how to perform physical examinations, measure vitals, and also order testing for blood and urine. If you seek out advanced training, you may also be able to interpret test results and develop treatment plans, acting in a limited doctor’s capacity.
A great deal of your job is working as a child’s advocate, and this means being able to communicate with children who are in pain and who do not possess the verbal skills that you do. Lastly, you are responsible for speaking with parents and explaining treatment plans that doctors recommend. A great deal of your time will be spent entirely on educating families on measures they can take at home.
A Day in the Life of a Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurse Casey Benedetto, MSN, RN, CPN was interviewed for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board website. She explained that she enjoys her work because of the opportunity it gives her to work with other nurses and other healthcare team members of her hospital.
She states that the biggest challenge of pediatric nursing is the fast-paced environment, though she does put in extra time and effort working as a Clinical Educator, teaching other nurses about the profession. While you might think that advancing in pediatric care is a difficult path, Casey states it’s just a matter of pursuing opportunities that are always there. “Look for opportunities to be a teacher in your nursing career whether it is with patients and families or with your co-workers.”
Lindsay Grubensky, CPEN, CPNP, was interviewed by the same site and works as a PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner) in the Emergency Department. She regularly sees approximately 20 patients in a typical day’s work. Some patients are only in for a quick visit while others requires hours of care. She even warns that in her experience, emergency departments are too busy for long downtime. “There is always another patient to see or a chart to finish. There are no meal breaks…coffee, power bar, etcetera, are all eaten between patients while charting.”
If this career field interests you, by all means rise to the occasion. There is always a demand for qualified nurses who put the interests of their patients (and in this case their families) above all else. You can start pursuing an education from a local college or an accredited online college. All that has to happen now is for you to put forth the effort!