What Is It Like To Be A Pediatric Registered Nurse

illustration of nurse with mother and child

While you know they're non the only option when it comes to patients, you've always imagined yourself caring for children when thinking well-nigh a career equally a registered nurse (RN). From what y'all can tell, pediatric nursing seems like an ideal fit for you. You go to be around little ones and brand those big, scary medical procedures seem non so bad.

While that sounds astonishing, you're still hoping to get some questions answered before committing to the career. What do pediatric nurses exercise? What'southward a day in the life of a pediatric nurse similar? How exercise you become a pediatric nurse?

We enlisted seasoned nursing experts to help provide answers to these questions and more than. Consider their insights to help determine if becoming a pediatric RN is the right choice for you.

What does a pediatric nurse do?

Pediatric nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients from birth through adolescence. They must take a deep knowledge of child growth and evolution as diseases and conditions in children often present and are treated differently than in adults.

Because their patients are so much younger, pediatric nurses often grade strong relational ties with them in different ways than they would with adult patients. This might include playing games, telling jokes, interim silly or holding their hand during tough procedures.

Though some pediatric nurses may perform like duties to what they would perform in a nursing unit for adults, they must carry out their duties with extra care and attending. "Pediatric nurses have a greater influence on their patient's future—from growth and development to health promotion and practices," says Rasmussen Academy Nursing instructor Brooke Cobb.

What are some typical pediatric RN duties?

Though at that place are many different types of pediatric nurses, the most common title is that of a pediatric registered nurse. A pediatric RN performs many of the same functions of registered nurses, though the ways they perform them are often very different since their patients are oft more vulnerable and crave groovy family and guardian support.

An RN oft performs the following duties, co-ordinate to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:^one

Assess patients' conditions
Record patients' medical histories and symptoms
Observe patients and record the observations
Administer patients' medicines and treatments
Aid perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries

Pediatric nurses have a lot of options as they can work in many subspecialties inside the field throughout their careers. Their work includes substantial patient contact time, and these nurses may form shut relationships with the patients and their families.

What are some pediatric nursing specialties?

Under the umbrella of pediatrics, yous may discover opportunities for fifty-fifty more specialized nursing work. Let's take a closer look at ii of the more common types of pediatric nurses: pediatric oncology and pediatric intensive care unit nursing.

What does a pediatric oncology nurse do?

Pediatric oncology nurses are focused on treating young patients facing complications from (often cancerous) tumors. Though nurses who work in adult oncology units take many comparable duties, it'due south of import to note that treating children with cancer is not the same equally treating adults.

The same type of cancer may call for dissimilar treatment protocols in children than in adults, and even the side effects of treatment may accept on more weight if at that place's a possibility information technology could stunt the child'southward expected growth and development. In addition, some cancers only exist in children and require additional knowledge and specialization from the medical staff.

Duties unique to pediatric oncology nurses may include:

Complete assessments on children prior to having chemotherapy administered to make certain they are healthy enough to tolerate the treatment
Administer chemotherapy as ordered by the doctor
Monitor children being treated with chemotherapy for signs of any life-threatening side effects
Brainwash families about their child's condition, treatments and how they can manage side furnishings at home

What do pediatric intensive care unit of measurement (PICU) nurse practice?

Like nurses who work with adults in the intensive care unit, PICU nurses focus on treating young patients with serious, life-threatening atmospheric condition. Many of the core duties remain the same: monitoring and assessing patient statuses, administering medications or treatments, and working quickly to help stabilize a patient's condition if they have a turn for the worse.

One main difference is that, typically, PICU nurses have a smaller number of patients to care for during their shifts. While that might sound like it could be "easier," remember that treatments are less uniform in a pediatric unit of measurement as patients are at varying stages of development—medications and treatment plans demand to be tailored for the patients' phase in development.

As you might imagine, these types of pediatric nurses encounter some incredibly emotionally taxing moments. It's non easy to witness immature children losing their fight with cancer or a serious disease, nor is it piece of cake to run across the bear on on their families. But it'southward non all emotional low points—aiding immature patients on their manner to a total recovery can be an incredibly rewarding feel.

Where do pediatric nurses work?

Pediatric nurses take many workplace options depending on what subset of care they are interested in. According to 2017 data from the Institute of Pediatric Nursing, the three almost common workplaces for certified pediatric nurses include:²

Gratis-standing children's hospitals (30.3 pct)
Children's hospitals associated with a major medical center (28.3 percent)
Outpatient specialty care centers (11.7 percent)

As you might await, facilities devoted to pediatric care, like children'southward hospitals, are a primary employer of pediatric RNs—but that doesn't necessarily hateful you're out of luck if you don't live nearly one. Many large hospitals and healthcare networks have specialized pediatric nursing opportunities as well.

What you should know before becoming a pediatric nurse

Now that you empathise the basics of these specialists do, yous're probably curious about what a day in the life of a pediatric nurse is like. Here's what our seasoned experts call back you should know most the role.

1. Listening and observation is key

Nurses collaborate contiguous with patients more than any other provider. With adult patients, it'due south relatively uncomplicated to go data about what ails them—but working with young patients can bring unique challenges on this front end. Though a child's medical chart may cover quite a fleck, many crucial pieces of information still need to be gathered from the patients and the family. Factors like lack of financial resources, boosted life stressors and transportation concerns can greatly influence the patient's intendance plan.

Additionally, pediatric nurses will demand to keep a shut centre out for nonverbal clues. "Patients in all age ranges need nurses to listen, only our pediatric patients cannot ever articulate their specific needs through exact communication," says Cobb.

One time you go comfortable in your role as a pediatric nurse, it may exist tempting to tune out what you might call back is extraneous chatter. Listening to the concerns of both parent and child will only further assistance yous in giving the best care possible for your patient.

2. Kids are resilient

"Kids are very resilient, and they heal more quickly than adults. This can be an advantage equally health outcomes are generally more promising in pediatrics," says Tyler Dean, certified pediatric nurse and associate professor at Rasmussen Academy.

A four-year-old can go from crying almost an IV stick to giggling a minute later. Working in pediatrics allows you to play a huge part in those giggles. "The most rewarding attribute of working in pediatrics is that y'all tin can play, make jokes and be a little goofy at times," Dean says. Not just is that good for the kids, but it's adept for you likewise. Nursing can be very stressful, and these interactions can bring joy to a normal twenty-four hour period.

3. You lot'll exist working with families just as much as you volition with children

A patient's family unit is an integral function of their recovery, and then information technology's cardinal that you communicate with them just as effectively every bit yous do with the child.

"Pediatric nurses utilize a family-centered arroyo, which ways you include, engage and educate all members of the family along with the patient," Dean explains. And don't forget the patient's siblings! Often, as the family unit is stressed and focused on the patient, siblings get ignored, so it means a lot for nurses to acknowledge the siblings' emotions and presence.

4. You can further specialize with pediatrics

Just every bit nurses can specialize when working in adult intendance, pediatric nurses can as well. Whether you're interested in intensive intendance, emergency care, orthopedics, oncology, trauma, gastroenterology, dwelling healthcare, the NICU or example management, it's likely you'll be able to find a pediatric section that aligns with your interests.

The duties are typically similar to the adult-equivalent specialty y'all may exist more familiar with, though the ways you lot communicate and interact with the patient will be dissimilar. You'll look for unlike developmental markers and rely on data communicated past the patient'south family. You may likewise demand to exist more observant of visual and behavioral clues since younger patients may accept trouble articulating exactly how they feel or what they need.

5. You'll have to take intendance of yourself too

Depending on where you work as a pediatric nurse, you lot may be caring for children with final illnesses or other very serious health issues. While you won't exist the 1 delivering the bad news initially or working with the family in the long run, learning how to navigate these situations in a positive fashion can have a positive affect on the family.

But even if y'all handle tough situations with families perfectly, seeing the pain in family members' faces in tough medical situations can be emotionally taxing, especially as you listen and stay nowadays with them as they grieve. "As with all types of nursing, it is important to take care of yourself and accept a professional human relationship with your patients and their families then y'all tin return the next day and dedicate yourself 100 percent to those patients equally well," Dean shares.

Your squad will be able to chronicle to what you're going through, and members may be able to assistance you verbally procedure your thoughts, emotions and feelings afterward stressful days. The charge nurse or clergyman may too check in with you as well. On your own, finding time to refuel, spending time with loved ones and investing in your own hobbies are keys to preventing burnout. "We are still human—information technology'due south okay to weep or enquire for aid," says Dean.

Exercise you have a time to come in pediatric nursing?

In that location's a lot that goes into condign and working every bit a pediatric nurse, but there'south no denying that reaching that goal afterward years of hard piece of work volition be more than worth information technology. Your kickoff step toward working in pediatrics is becoming a registered nurse. Learn more almost the path ahead in our article "How to Become a Registered Nurse: Your 4-Step Guide."

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed June, 2021] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged information for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of educational activity and experience. Employment conditions in your expanse may vary.
²"Pediatric Nursing Workforce Data", Institute of Pediatric Nursing [accessed June, 2021] http://www.ipedsnursing.org/pediatric-nursing-workforce-data

EDITOR'South Note: This commodity was originally published in October 2017. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2021.