Pediatric nursing is a rewarding career that many licensed practical nurses aspire to get into. Pediatric nurses primarily work with infants, children, and adolescents, To provide acute and preventive care. The classification within the nursing field required to become a pediatric nurse is a registered nurse or RN, who normally have four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degrees. However they must be certified to work as pediatric nurse practitioners through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

Afterward, they specialize in pediatrics by gaining employment in a hospital or nursing environment that serves pediatric patients. There are many settings in which pediatric nurses may work, including clinics, schools, emergency rooms, doctors offices, hospital floor are intensive care units, etc. They are trained on the development and growth of children, along with parent or caregiver communication and education on how to care for their child.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP’s), similar to standard pediatric nurses primarily care for children and young people. This role is more advanced than that of a pediatric nurse, as it requires an additional 2 years of education beyond age bachelors degree, which requires passing a 2nd exam. They too work in a variety of settings such as medical offices or hospitals, but unlike pediatric nurses, are able to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications. Additionally, PNPs are able to work with special needs children or those with chronic or serious conditions.

Following is a more in depth list of primary care services offered by pediatric nurses and PNPs:

• Routine development exams
• Diagnosis and treatment of common childhood illnesses
• Guidance on common health concerns of children
• Administering immunizations/vaccinations
• Performance of school physicals

Following is a list of acute care or specialty services pediatric nurses and PNPs may provide:

• Caring chronically or critically ill children
• In-depth physical exams
• Analyzing lab and diagnostic test results
• Prescribing medications and performing therapy treatment

Many pediatric nurses and PNPs focus specialize in one area of pediatrics, such as gastroenterology, dermatology, cardiology, or oncology.

How to Become a Pediatric Nurse – Pediatric Nurse Education

There are 2 ways to become a pediatric nurse, however one must 1st become a registered nurse and obtain their RN credential as described above, and then afterward pursue a career in pediatrics.

The easiest way to become a pediatric nurse is to receive specialized training at a facility that serves pediatric patients, such as through an internship program providing clinical and classroom training in pediatrics.

The second way to become a pediatric nurse is to become a Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) after gaining a certain amount of experience working with children. Afterward one can earn significantly more than those who do not possess the CPN credential.