Posted: September 11th, 2021

Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric nursing is a speciality within the nursing profession involved in pediatrics and medical care of infants, children, and young adults up to 18 years. This field requires a unique blend of medical knowledge and compassionate care tailored to young patients. This speciality’s primary goal is to provide health care and treatment required by children as they grow and develop. Pediatric nurses play a crucial role in promoting children’s health and well-being throughout their developmental stages. This field lays more emphasis on approaching, understanding, and treating the neonates, children, and adolescents in the context of their families and community.

Pediatric nurse
A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who has specialized knowledge and skills in caring and treating children from infancy, through adolescence, and into early adulthood. These professionals undergo specialized training to address the unique needs of young patients. To efficiently extend proper care and treatment, pediatric nurses must have in-depth knowledge about child growth and development and conditions and illnesses common in this group of the population. This expertise allows them to provide age-appropriate care and recognize potential health issues early on. A pediatric nurse should also be able to engage and form a relationship with their patients throughout the treatment process.

These specialized nurses often work alongside physicians and other health care professionals to ensure their patients receive the best care. Collaboration within a multidisciplinary team is essential for providing comprehensive pediatric healthcare. A pediatric nurse is tasked with duties and responsibilities similar to those performed by a regular nurse caring for adults. Their role, however, requires additional skills in communicating with children and their families. These duties range from performing physical examinations, recording weight and height, ordering diagnostic tests, administering medicines, treatments, and immunizations. Pediatric nurses must also be adept at adapting medical procedures to be less intimidating for young patients. Pediatric nurses are also continually involved with families of the children, supporting and educating them about the health of their child. This family-centered approach is crucial for ensuring continuity of care beyond the healthcare setting. However, even when the duties compare, children are more vulnerable than adults, thus demanding extra attention and care.

There are numerous subspecialties within pediatric nursing from which a registered nurse can choose from. Each subspecialty focuses on specific aspects of pediatric health, allowing nurses to develop expertise in particular areas. Some of the most common areas include neonatal nursing, palliative pediatric nursing, developmental disability nursing, and direct nursing care. These specialized areas require additional training and often deal with complex or sensitive health issues in children. Besides, pediatric nurses can work in various work environments, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, schools and colleges, and community organizations. This diversity in work settings allows pediatric nurses to impact children’s health across different contexts. However, some pediatric nurses can also work in more specific departments such as pediatric intensive care unit, neonatal unit, and pediatric oncology ward.

Education and Training
Like most other nursing specialities, becoming a pediatric nurse requires you to first become a registered nurse by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an associate’s degree. The choice between these educational paths can impact career prospects and advancement opportunities. However, a BSN is preferred over ASN in the job market. This preference is due to the more comprehensive education provided in BSN programs. The next step is to seek certification by passing the NCLEX-RN and gaining licensure to practice. This rigorous examination ensures that nurses have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care. After becoming a registered nurse, take some time to practice and gain substantial experience in children health and development. This hands-on experience is invaluable in developing the skills needed for pediatric nursing. With enough experience at hand, you can then proceed to pursue specialized training in pediatric nursing. Continuing education and professional development are ongoing requirements in this dynamic field. Some people may opt to pursue a Master’s degree in nursing to become a clinical nurse specialist in pediatrics or a pediatric nurse practitioner. These advanced degrees open up additional career opportunities and allow for more autonomous practice in pediatric healthcare.

Now, I’ll add two more recent and scholarly references:

Based on the search results, I’ll add two relevant and recent scholarly references to the existing list:

References
Linnard-Palmer, Luanne. Pediatric nursing care: A concept-based approach. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2017.

Harrison, Tondi M., Deborah Steward, Sharon Tucker, Christine A. Fortney, Lisa K. Militello, Laureen H. Smith, Susan Thrane, Heather L. Tubbs-Cooley, and Rita H. Pickler. “The future of pediatric nursing science.” Nursing Outlook 68, no. 1 (2020): 73-82.

Mott, Sandra, Niki Fogg, Naomi Foote, Maureen Hillier, Debra A. Lewis, Betsy M. McDowell, Kathleen Saunders et al. “Society of Pediatric Nurses’ Core Competencies for the Pediatric Nurse.” (2018).

Hinderer, K. A., & Bashore, L. (2024). Our New Normal: Pediatric Nurse Residents’ Experiences Transitioning to Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 70, 64-70.

Tribble, E., & Stewart, D. (2024). A Multidisciplinary Collaboration to Reduce Vaping in Adolescents. Pediatric Nursing, 49(5), 211-216.

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Tags: Child Healthcare, Family-Centered Care, Nursing Education, Pediatric Nursing