Although being a pediatric nurse is a challenging job, many career enthusiasts are increasingly opting for it, as a long-term career. Therefore, this article deals with the pediatric nurse salary range and intends to acquaint all those interested, with the job description and educational requirements of the same.
Dealing with children and taking care of their health and wellness on a professional level is not a child’s play!! It requires an understanding of child psychology, tolerance towards their behavior and activities, etc. Frankly speaking, not everyone has the skill to deal with children in a nice and friendly way. Pediatric nurses are registered nurses who work with young children and infants. They also hold the authority to conduct physical tests, advice proper medication and give relevant treatment to the patients.
With the rise in medical jobs in the United States, many jobs for pediatric nurses are estimated to emerge. This is an excellent career with enormous opportunities. Nurses getting trained in pediatric nursing can expect a lot of hospital job opportunities for themselves, once their training is over. Now let us move on to know about the duties of a pediatric nurse, the salary and educational requirements!
Pediatric nurses work in the department of pediatrics of a health care organization. Some of the duties and responsibilities of pediatric nurses are discussed below.
- Performing diagnostic tests and providing proper medication and treatment, forms the basis of the job of a pediatric nurse.
- Convincing and communicating with children in a friendly way about the necessary treatment is another important duty of a pediatric nurse.
- Measuring the blood pressure, body temperature, heartbeat rate, collecting urine samples of the patient, on a regular basis.
- Monitoring the patient’s progress and reporting the same to the pediatrician.
- Developing patient care plans with the help of other members of the health care team.
- Communicating with the child’s parents and keeping them updated on the progress, complications and providing tips on caring for their child’s health.
- The job description depends upon the area of specialization. For instance, pediatric nurses who have specialized in emergency services, their duties would slightly differ from the regular pediatric nurses.
Education Requirement of Pediatric Nurses
To become a pediatric nurse, one has to first become a registered nurse! You can opt for a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which broadens your career path or an associate degree program or a diploma course in nursing. Once you complete your formal education in nursing, you need to clear the NCLEX-RN examination, which will earn you the Registered Nurse (RN) certification. Further, you can start working as a nurse in the pediatrics department of any hospital and after 1-year, apply for the certification of pediatric nurse. This involves the successful completion of the Certified Pediatric Nurse examination, governed by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. You can specialize in some areas of pediatric nursing after getting certified as a pediatric nurse. To earn the specialization certification, you need to complete the examination and training program held by the concerned board or authority.
The salaries of pediatric nurses are very attractive, however, the type of employer, educational qualification and experience have a vital role in deciding the salary range of a pediatric nurse. A fresher can earn between USD 30,000 – USD 50,000 in the first year of employment. The median salary of pediatric nurses with 1-year or less experience is around USD 68,000 – USD 70,000. The median salary of nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, is about USD 48,000 – USD 50,000. However, after two to four years of experience, the salary could be anywhere between USD 85,000 – USD 90,000!
Another factor that greatly affects the earnings for a pediatric nurse is the job location. Nurses working in the Northeast and West coast are paid much more as compared to nurses who work in the Southern and Midwestern regions. Again, the kind of employer also affects the salary range. If the nurse is employed in a well-established and big hospital, or in a private hospital, the salary is much more. Similarly, if the hospital is located in a big city, the salary is more to compensate for the high costs of the city.
With this discussion, you must have got an idea of the pediatric nurse salary range, job description and educational requirements. The job of a pediatric nurse is very challenging because one has to deal with infants and children. Apart from excellent communication skills and education requirements, one needs to be patient and caring with a pleasant personality to practice as a pediatric nurse. It’s a rewarding career for those who love being with children. Good luck!