Certifications and Licensure

Certification and Licensure requirements for becoming a pediatric nurse

Certification and licensure is very much required for a Pediatric Nurse.
A certified registered nurse is given much preference by the employers.
There are many certifications programs for a Pediatric Nurse.
Certification for a Pediatric Nurse is compulsory in some states in United States.
Usually Pediatric Nurses who cannot do master’s degree prefer certification programs after their bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Major certification programs include Certified Pediatric Nurse and Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse.
For some certifications nurses must have advanced degrees.
Other certification boards for Pediatric Nurses are Pediatric Nurse Certification Board.
Even Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing also certifies nurses as Pediatric Emergency Nurses.
Certified Pediatric Nurses are eligible to work in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms and pediatrics health centers.
The employment opportunities for a certified Pediatric Nurse are very good.
Only licensed nurses are only allowed to work in the hospitals as Pediatric Nurse.
Licensure requirements vary as per the state.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is available for the Pediatric Nurse.
LPN program takes at least eighteen months to complete.
The candidates must pass National Counsel Licensure Exam Practical Nurse shortly abbreviated as NCLEX.
Licensure is introduced for all the professionals in the interest of the public and welfare of the society by the states.

Salary and Remuneration

Salary and Remuneration for a pediatric nurse

Salaries for a Pediatric Nurse are based on many factors which include number of years of work experience, work location, certifications, size of the hospital, number of beds in the hospital and also industry type.
Bonus in addition to salaries is offered by the hospitals.
Most of the hospitals pay salaries to Pediatric Nurse on hourly basis.
The total pay earnings for these professionals in United States is in the range of $28,593- $83,147 per annum.
There is no profit share for these professionals.
Almost all the Pediatric Nurses are females and salary range package also differ based on the gender type.
For females hourly salary rate is of the range $19.88- $27.40.
The hourly salary rate range is highest in the home health care centers with a range of $19.96- $39.94.
The less hourly rate is in pediatric office of $17.10- $35.09 in United States.
Experience is very crucial for a Pediatric Nurse in particular a lot of experience is required to provide nurse care to patients like infants and young children.
With less than one year experience as Pediatric Nurse the candidate earns a salary range of $30,201- $59,598 per annum in United States.
One to four years of experience the candidate is expected to earn a salary range of $20,426- $77,930 per annum.
A Pediatric Nurse with five to nine years of work experience gets a salary range of $20,608- $118,412 per annum.
Ten to nineteen years of work experience the candidate gets a salary range of $38,527- $67,748 per annum in United States.
Work location of Pediatric Nurse also is one of major factor for deciding salary package for these professionals.
Among all the states or provinces in United States Georgia pays the highest salary range of $40,337- $61,042 per annum for Pediatric Nurses.
California State pays a very less salary package range to Pediatric Nurse of $20,203- $121,645 per annum.
Bonus paid to Pediatric Nurse is based on many factors like number of years of work experience, work location, number of hospital beds and certification.
With less than one year of experience a bonus of $1,500 is earned by these professionals in addition to the basic salaries.
A bonus of $500 is offered by the employers with an experience of one to four years.
Five to nine years of work experience a bonus of $750 is given by the hospital.
A bonus of $2,750 is offered by the employers to Pediatric Nurse with ten to nineteen years of work experience.
Twenty years experience and more than it a bonus of $187.50 is earned by the Pediatric Nurse in United States.
A candidate with specialization in emergency care gets a highest bonus of $992.
Number of hospital beds is also proportional to the bonus of Pediatric Nurse.
Less than 50 beds a bonus of $976 is earned by a Pediatric Nurse.
Beds between 100 to 299 numbers the hospital offer a bonus of $550 to these professionals.
With more than five hundred beds the candidate is expected to get a bonus of $400.

What are the important duties and responsibilities?

Duties and Responsibilities of a pediatric nurse

The duties and responsibilities of Pediatric Nurse may differ based type of hospital establishment. In Large hospitals there are plenty of duties and responsibilities for these professionals.

Duties of a Pediatric Nurse

Provide nursing care to the patients (infants and small children) in hospitals and medical centers.
Help children during treatment by the doctors.
Assist pediatric doctor during treatment of the patient.
Explain the importance of treatment and medication to children in an understanding manner.
Encourage children and their parents who are ill and afraid of the medical equipments in the room.
Assist children during medical tests which include urine test, blood test and x-ray test.
To be very alert while changing bandages or dressings.
Take special care and eye on infant patients since they are very delicate.
Make children happy always when they feel upset and disappointed.
Understand the fear and pain suffered by these young kids during medical tests and help them to the maximum to forget the pain.

Responsibilities of a Pediatric Nurse

A Pediatric Nurse must be very responsible in her duty since she deals with caring of small young patients.
Check the blood pressure and perform all the preliminary tests regularly before the doctor’s visit to the patient.
Work for long hours if working in emergency rooms and Intensive Care Units (ICU).
A Pediatric Nurse another primary responsibility is to instruct and guide parents of the patients on how to use medical equipments like nebulizer.
After the diagnosis made by the doctor a Pediatric Nurse explains the diagnosis in a more simplified manner to the patient’s parents.
Maintain the record of each observation of the patient clearly and submit the records to doctor during his/her visit to the patient.
Ensure that the surroundings of the room are clean and tidy.
Make sure that the patient room is silent without any disturbances.
Ensure that the patient is provided proper diet by the hospital staff.

What are the Educational Requirements?

Educational Requirements to become a pediatric nurse

The candidate who desires to become a Pediatric Nurse must complete a two year or four year degree in nursing.
Bachelor’s degree in nursing is very important to understand the principles and procedures followed by the nurses.
A bachelor’s degree or associate degree in nursing is required to pursue master’s degree in nursing.
It is compulsory for the Pediatric Nurse to become a registered nurse shortly called RN must have either ASN- Associate of Science in Nursing or BSN- Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
As part of the study these nurses are aware of subjects like biology, chemistry, physiology and anatomy.
In addition to education special training is required for Pediatric Nurse.
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is sufficient for a normal nurse.
Master’s degree in nursing would enhance the growth the nurse career very fast and quickly.
A Pediatric Nurse who completes master’s degree in nursing becomes a Pediatric Nurse practitioner.
It takes two years of full time study to get master’s degree in nursing.
A Pediatric Nurse practitioner performs the duties of a pediatrics doctor.
Almost all the candidates who complete bachelor’s degree in nursing study master’s degree in nursing to get the designation of Pediatric Nurse practitioner.
Pediatric Nurse can also become Advanced Practice Nurse shortly called as APN with a master’s degree in nursing.

Skill Set Needed for the Job

Skills sets requirement for a pediatric nurse

Very good excellent skills sets are mandatory especially for Pediatric Nurses.
Compared to a normal nurse a Pediatric Nurse is expected to have extra skills sets to handle this position.
Good communication skills are required.
Sound knowledge of all pediatrics practices.
Excellent understanding skills are mandatory to understand the feelings of young patients.
Maintain good relations with the doctor’s and other medical staff members in the hospital.
Must encourage the patient and patient’s parents mentally.
To be very friendly with the patients.
Good convincing skills are required.
Work in weekends and sometimes night duties.
Willing to work in shifts.
High levels of patience are required to deal with small children.
Aware of all the hospital rules and regulations.
To be very much dedicated to work.
Be passionate about the job.
To closely watch the patient performance and report to doctor immediately in case of emergency.
Work closely with the doctor.

What is the job about?

What does a Pediatric Nurse do?

A Pediatric Nurse is a person who practices pediatric nursing also called as child health nurse. She provides nursing care to very young people aged between one to eighteen years of age. The job profile of a Pediatric Nurse is very challenging compared with other kinds of nurse. These professionals must handle patients with great care and delicately since, the patients are very young children and infants.

Babies and very small children have very less resistance power so, they are quickly attacked my diseases and fever. All the Pediatric Nurses are females and very small number of males chose this profession as their career. The candidate who works as Pediatric Nurse requires great levels of patience and great love towards patients.