Are you interested in becoming a pediatric nurse? Do you know what you need to help kids? Do you know how many hours a pediatric nurse works? Or have you the skills and knowledge to become one? In this article, you will find all the information necessary to be part of an immense group of nurses committed to help sick kids.
First you have to apply to work in a hospital or clinic with pediatric service because it is in that place where you will receive specialized training during three months. It would be like an internship program for new nursing graduates.
The training includes classroom and clinical classes in the pediatric field. Once you have graduated, you have the opportunity to take an exam to become a Certified Pediatric Nurse. There are different options within the field, which include Pediatric Advance Life Support, Emergency Nurse Pediatric, and Emergency Medical Service for Children.
A pediatric nurse basically uses a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff or sphygmomanometer, thermometer, cardiopulmonary (CP) monitors and a Snellen chart.
The amount of hours that a pediatric nurse works depends on where you work and what you do. If you work in a hospital you will have to work an average to 8 or 12 hours five days a week. Shifts are usually from 7am to 7pm, 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm, or 11pm to 7am. The 12 hours shifts usually go from 7am to 7pm and from 7pm to 7am and typically work 3 or 4 days per week. In each hospital you will find a variety of shifts to work, some only weekends and alternate shifts from days to nights.
Pediatric Nurses have many responsibilities. They have to take the history from child?s caregiver (depending on their age), examine the child, and make a diagnosis. Sometimes, when the diagnosis is not clear, the nurse would have to order additional tests like X-Rays, blood test, or urine. Once the diagnosis is done, the pediatric nurse has to decide if the child goes home or stays in the hospital and what kind of medication is needed.
You have to know the responsibilities of being a pediatric nurse, those include being a patient advocate, confidentiality, maintaining the professionalism and ensuring the understanding of the family and patient about the procedures.
It is very important not to forget that families depend on your work, but as a pediatric nurse, you will also depend on many people. Sometimes this job can be stressing and difficult but it is also very rewarding when you know a child is doing well and gives you a smile.