Pediatric Nurse Job Description Information

Pediatric nurses provide preventive and acute care to infants, children, and teens in a variety of settings. Certification in pediatric nursing is available to experienced pediatric registered nurses.

 

Requirements

• A pediatric nurse needs a four-year bachelor's of science (BSN) or two-year associate degree (ADN) in nursing and state-specific RN licensure (see reference 1). A nurse who has 1800+ hours in pediatric nursing over the past twenty-four months is eligible to take an exam from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. When he passes that exam, he may use the credential Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) (see reference 2).

Types

• A CPN may be a staff nurse, nurse manager, nurse educator, or clinical specialist. She may choose to provide primary care (health promotion and disease prevention) or acute nursing care to ill or injured children (see reference 1).

Settings

• CPNs work in acute care hospitals, specialized children's hospitals, doctor's offices, home health agencies, clinics, and community-based agencies.

Responsibilities

• Regardless of where he is employed, a CPN will follow the nursing process to deliver patient care. The five components of the nursing process are assessment, nursing diagnosis, care planning, intervention, and evaluation (see reference 3).

Salary

• According to PayScale.com, a pediatric nurse with less than a year experience can expect a median salary of $42,253 to $51,395 a year. With 20+ years under her belt, she'll command a salary between $43,816 and $73,250.

Read more: Certified Pediatrics Nurse Job Description | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6173403_certified-pediatrics-nurse-job-description.html#ixzz1gkiJbuVa

Pediatric Nurse Salary Information

A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in the health care of infants, children and adolescents. A pediatric nurse primarily is employed in school districts, hospitals or clinics and averages a beginning salary of $41,446 to $65,035.

Function

• A pediatric nurse is responsible for administering medications, performing examinations, diagnosing illnesses and providing treatment to children in addition to counseling families on health care issues.

Education

• In addition to completing a nursing program, a pediatric nurse is required to pass the national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) exam, finish a one-year internship at a hospital pediatric department and pass the Certified Pediatric Nurse exam. According to Payscale.com, the U.S. national average salary in 2009 for a new pediatric nurse graduate with less than one year of experience ranged from $41,446 to $50,000.

Average Salary

• According to Payscale.com, the U.S. national average salary in 2009 for a pediatric nurse with one to four years of experience ranged from $38,716 to $65,035.

Geography

• Highly populated states such as Texas and California offer pediatric nurses higher salaries. According to Payscale.com, the U.S. national average salary in 2009 for a pediatric nurse in Texas ranged from $48,475 to $83,007 and the U.S. national average salary in 2009 for a pediatric nurse in California ranged from $49,132 to $101,736.

Benefits

• Depending on the medical facility or school district, a pediatric nurse may be eligible to receive bonuses. According to Payscale.com, the U.S. national average bonus in 2009 for a new pediatric nurse with less than one year of experience is $150 and the U.S. national average bonus in 2009 for a pediatric nurse with one to four years of experience is $989.

Read more: Pediatric Nursing Beginning Salary | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5455953_pediatric-nursing-beginning-salary.html#ixzz1gkhIxYSn

How to Become a Pediatric Nurse

To become a pediatric nurse, you will need to first graduate nursing school then seek additional specialized training. Pediatric nurses can work in hospitals, clinics and some family practices. Pediatric nurses specialize in working with children and their families, and should be able to relate well to patients of all ages.

1. Earn your certification as registered nurse or earn a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or BSN. Requirements vary by state, so you'll want to consult your state board of nursing for regulations in the area where you live.
2. Sit for and pass the certification exam administered by your state. You must complete all academic course work before you can sit for the exam, which can be an Associate degree or a Bachelor's degree.
3. Get a job in a hospital with a pediatrics department or in a clinical setting where pediatric patients are cared for. Most nursing schools do not have a specialized degree in pediatrics, so it isn't until you enter the field that you can actually become a specialized pediatric nurse.
4. Enroll in a pediatric internship program at the hospital or clinic where you work to get an in-depth look at the field firsthand. It is in this position that you will learn the specific skills necessary to become a pediatric nurse. You can expect to spend 3 months to 1 year in an internship, although no set time is standard in this field.
5. Take classes that will augment your pediatric medical training while in college. Child psychology classes will help you learn to communicate with sick children and family psychology classes can help you learn to communicate effectively with frightened parents.
6. Graduate nursing school, complete your internship or other specialized training, then sit for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam. The CPN can be taken once you've gotten the classroom education and on-the-job training required for a career in pediatrics.
7. Get advanced training by taking courses from the American Heart Association like Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
8. Attend conferences and seminars regularly to keep abreast of the latest developments in pediatric care and medical technology.
9. Join professional organizations for pediatric specialists such as the Society for Pediatric Nurses.

Read more: How to Become a Pediatric Nurse | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2071001_become-pediatric-nurse.html#ixzz1gH6tHqxw