A pediatric nursing profession specializing in pediatrics and children’s medical care from infancy to the teenage years. Pediatric nursing is an essential field because children’s health is distinct from that of adults because of the development and growth that takes place throughout childhood (Hornor,2022). Pediatric nurse diagnoses and treats medical conditions in adolescents and children. They also administer required minor procedures. Pediatric nurses also educate family members by providing follow-up information as needed by them and answering the questions they may ask. According to Honor (2022), Pediatric nurses are expected to treat all patients, regardless of their religion, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class status, and nationality, with compassion and respect by providing quality care to the patients. To support excellence in nursing, the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board Certificate code of ethics expects that every nurse should adhere to some ethical pledges such as; Holding a currently valid, unencumbered, unrestricted license to practice as a registered, Maintaining the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality, Pediatric nurses are also expected to refrain from direct or indirect unethical practices. Ethical violations can include but are not limited to; Failure to maintain a current and active RN license, falsing any information provided to the PNCB, misinterpreting certification status, and participating in illegal practices. However, suppose a PNCB-certified nurse s certification feels revoked because of ethical violations, and the nurse wants to become certified again by PNCB. In that case, the nurse can contact the body to determine his or her future certification (Appiah et al., 2022).
To become a pediatric nurse, some education requirements are necessary. An individual should either have a degree in nursing (AND) or a bachelor of science in nursing. The individual is also required to be licensed. This is always done by passing a pediatric nursing certification exam. Nursing can be considered not only an occupation but also a calling. In addition, one should possess critical thinking skills to evaluate changes in a patient’s health status and make wise decisions on how to talk to the patient. Good communication skills are also required when dealing with children; effective communication is necessary to understand their health conditions and concerns. A pediatric nurse must also be able to explain to his patients the instructions. The nurse should also be compassionate and have empathy; he should be able to care and understand when looking after the patients. Being detail-oriented is also an essential skill for nurses to ensure patients receive the correct medicines and treatments.
Some top schools offering pediatric nursing include; Duke University, located in Durham, NC. Duke University was ranked second in pediatric nursing, considering it was the first school to offer a graduate nursing program. The school contains numerous laboratories and classrooms. At Duke University, resources at every level of education are available to prepare you for a career as a pediatric nurse. Another best school in pediatric nursing is Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Its school of nursing was launched in 1909 and has maintained its good performance in the field. A student can complete the pediatric nursing degree course in an average of two years (McDowell et al., 2023). Though some accelerated programs can be completed in twelve to eighteen months, this requires a full-time commitment.
At Duke University, fees are always calculated per semester though the estimated four-year tuition fee is $262,872. In Nashville University, it is calculated in terms of health insurance $3491, transcripts $100, student service fee $691, and books $1800.An associate degree in nursing (AND is the minimum degree one can get in pediatric nursing (Beykmirza et al., 2022). Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is the most common certification in pediatric nursing. It corresponds to a specialty with a recognized occupation.
Jobs are typical for pediatric nursing because their rate is increasing. The US (BLS) Bureau of labor statistics argued that employment opportunities would grow by 52% between 2020 and 2030, an increment of 114,900 jobs and a 9 % increase in jobs for registered nurses. The Bureau projects 1.1% employment growth for pediatricians. The job advertised in Zippi for pediatric nurses is approximately 1,110. Much experience is required for one to be a qualified pediatric nurse (McDowell, 2023). As an RN, an individual should show proof of at least an experience of 1800 hours in pediatric clinical work in 24 months. He or she can also show proof of a minimum of 5 years as a pediatric nurse and 3000 hours as a pediatric nurse within the last five years within a minimum of 1000 hours within the past 24 months. The average salary of a registered nurse with pediatric skills, entry-level, is $4250.
According to Honor (2022), professional organizations help students in similar fields share networks and ideas and learn about the latest developments in the field. Such organizations include; the American management association, with a $2195 one-year membership. The American Board of Pediatrics requires 40 quality improvement points, 40 self-assessment points, and 20 points in either QL or SL. Every five years, during these assessments, one can test his or her knowledge.
I recently became more interested in pediatric nursing because there are so many job opportunities. I have an interest in taking care of children and teenagers. However, it takes a lot of time to complete the course. The job salary is quite encouraging. Having good interpersonal and commination skills and high personal integrity, I will be better positioned to deal with patients.
References
Appiah, E. O., Appiah, S., Kontoh, S., Mensah, S., Awuah, D. B., Menlah, A., & Baidoo, M. (2022). Pediatric nurse-patient communication practices at Pentecost Hospital, Madina: A qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 9(4), 481-489.
Beykmirza, R., Nikfarid, L., Negarandeh, R., Sarkhani, N., & Moradi Cherati, M. (2022). Development and validation of an instrument to measure pediatric nurses’ adherence to ethical codes. BMC Medical Ethics, 23(1), 1-8.
Forsyth, L. A., Lopez, S., & Lewis, K. A. (2022). Caring for sick kids: An integrative review of the evidence about the prevalence of compassion fatigue and effects on pediatric nurse retention. Journal of pediatric nursing, 63, 9-19.
McDowell, B. M., Cooper, R., Bowling, A. M., Cowen, K. J., Eskew, K., Kingsley, R. A., … & Williams, L. (2023). The SPN pediatric nursing excellence model: Differentiating pediatrics. Journal of pediatric nursing, 68, 10-17.
Hornor, G. (2022). Child maltreatment prevention: Essentials for the pediatric nurse practitioner. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 36(2), 193-201.
write