 Pediatric nurses provide preventative and acute care in all settings to children and adolescents. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) perform physical exams, diagnose illness and injury, and provide education and support to patients' families. They often work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with pediatricians and other health care providers. Pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners are compassionate professionals who dedicate their careers to the health of the next generation.  Pediatric Nurse Career Overview Pediatric nurses and pediatric nurse practitioners work in a wide range of settings from doctor's offices and community-based settings to hospitals and critical care facilities. Primary care services may include: - Health maintenance care, including "well child" examinations
- Routine developmental screenings
- Diagnosis and treatment of common childhood illnesses
- Anticipatory guidance regarding common child health concerns
- Delivery of immunizations
- Performance of school physicals
Acute care and specialty services may include: - Caring for children who are acutely, chronically or critically ill
- Performing in-depth physical assessments
- Interpreting results of laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Ordering medications and performing therapeutic treatments
Some pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners focus on a pediatric specialty area, such as cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology or oncology. Pediatric Nurse Education Pediatric nurses are registered nurses (RNs) and usually have four-year Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degrees (BSNs). After gaining experience providing nursing care for children, a pediatric nurse can take an exam to become a Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN). To become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you will need to meet these requirements in addition to your RN: Certified nurses earn significantly more than those without such credentials. Certification is required in many states and recommended in the others. Pediatric Nurse Salary As with any nursing specialty, your income will vary depending on your training, certifications and years of experience. According to Salary.com, pediatric nurses earn the following: - Registered nurses on staff in pediatrics earn a median annual salary of $57,597, with the middle 50 percent earning between $52,457 and $68,826.
- Nurse practitioners typically make about $20,000 more per year than an RN. The median salary for a nurse practitioner in the United States is $80,414, with the middle 50 percent earning between $73,840 and $87,008.
Pediatric Nurse Career Outlook As with all nursing careers, the demand for pediatric nurses is expected to increase significantly over the next ten years. In general, the more training, certifications and experience a nurse has, the more demand there will be for his or her skill set. Job demand positively affects salaries, schedules, job openings and the availability of training institutions and government grants for education. These reasons, coupled with the fact that nursing is a rewarding profession, make today a great time to become a pediatric nurse. Sources:
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, 2008
Society of Pediatric Nurses, 2008 |
PNP Career at a Glance Helping to Shape a New Generation Studies show that the first three years of a child's life are some of the most important developmental years because the brain is forming. Pediatric nurses play an important role in helping maintain children's health and in educating their parents during this crucial developmental time. Rewarding Nature of the Job Pediatric nurses often get to watch families as they grow. They develop relationships as they see children mature and grow from infancy through teen years. It can be a very rewarding profession, and the more training, certifications and experience a nurse has, the more demand there will be for his or her skill set. Source:
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, 2008 How to Pay for Nursing School |
