You’ve always loved kids.
Maybe you are about to graduate or want to change your nursing specialty and becoming a pediatric nurse has crossed your mind.
Pediatric nursing involves a great amount of responsibility. The care and welfare of future generations lie in your hands and each day comes with various challenges and rewards.
In this article, we focus on peeling back the layers of pediatric nursing to reveal how to become one, the details of pediatric nursing, and all the reasons why you should become a pediatric nurse.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Pediatric Nurse?
- What Does a Pediatric Nurse Do?
- What Are the Benefits of Being a Pediatric Nurse?
- 10 Reasons Why Becoming a Pediatric Nurse Could Be the Right Career Choice for You
- What Are the Requirements To Be a Pediatric Nurse?
- What Are the Opportunities for Growth as a Pediatric Nurse?
- Best States To Work as a Pediatric Travel Nurse in 2024
- Trusted Nurse Staffing: Helping Nurses Make a Difference in the Lives of Children All Over the Nation
What Is a Pediatric Nurse?
Nurses specializing in pediatrics dedicate their knowledge and skills to caring for children and their families from birth through adolescence.
A pediatric nurse can work in a:
- Hospital
- Clinic
- Private practice
- School
Pediatric nurses practice general medicinal care for children but can also specialize in specific areas of nursing, such as:
- Pediatric oncology
- Pediatric home care
- Pediatric psychiatry
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
- Palliative pediatric
- Labor and delivery
What Does a Pediatric Nurse Do?
A pediatric nurse provides care to children with various health conditions. They also coordinate care with parents and other caregivers to ensure the child’s needs are met.
Pediatric nurses can:
- Perform physical examinations
- Measure vital statistics
- Take blood and urine samples
- Order diagnostic tests
Additionally, pediatric nurses ensure that the child receives care for vaccinations, nutritional monitoring, and the minimum exercise to ensure appropriate developmental growth.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Pediatric Nurse?
Working in pediatric nursing is the best of both worlds for those who love nursing and children. You get to truly make a difference, caring for the future of the world while spreading smiles and comfort.
In addition, being a pediatric nurse comes with the following perks:
- Earning a great income
- Job security
- Influence on future health choices
- Working with children
- And more
10 Reasons Why Becoming a Pediatric Nurse Could Be the Right Career Choice for You
#1: You’ll Have a Reason to Be Proud of Your Job
In pediatric nursing, you have the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the life of a child at a time when they need you most.
Often, child patients are unsure about their condition and seek out someone they can trust. In your role as a pediatric nurse, you are often the one a child will look to for comfort and emotional support.
It is your job to help make them feel better, keep them calm, and ensure all their needs are met.
Your young patients may look to you for answers when they’re scared or upset and believe you without question. Then, as their condition improves, they will not hesitate to express their gratitude for all the care you have provided.
Is there anything more heartwarming than making a positive impact on a child’s life?
#2: You’ll Have the Opportunity to Develop Your Career
A pediatric nursing career offers you several educational opportunities, making it a great career choice.
With so many chances for you to learn and grow in your field, the potential you have to make an impact as a pediatric nurse is practically endless.
You can also earn a master’s degree in nursing to become a pediatric nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in pediatrics.
Pediatric nurse practitioners are allowed to:
- Diagnose
- Prescribe medications; and
- Manage care for children
To become a pediatric or clinical nurse practitioner, you must:
- Become a registered nurse.
- Complete your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
- Earn 500 clinical practice hours in primary care pediatrics.
- Apply for a state certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner in the state you would like to work in.
- Apply to take the pediatric primary care nurse practitioner exam administered by the PNCB to earn your certification.
#3: You’ll Enjoy Working With Children
Choosing to work as a pediatric nurse offers you the chance to work with children every day.
Children can be scared of medical facilities, so pediatric nurses must find creative ways to communicate with them and make them feel comfortable.
Using your imagination to make routine medical procedures more fun and engaging allows you to capitalize on your inner child and let your patients know they aren’t alone.
#4: You’ll Be Able To Help Families Address Illnesses and Grief
In addition to working with young patients, pediatric nurses work closely with their families.
It can devastate families when a child needs medical attention, and you will often be their comforter and supporter.
Pediatric nurses can:
- Reassure families when they are anxious
- Educate and address any questions the family may have
- Console them when they receive difficult news; and
- Celebrate with them when they reach milestones
#5: You’ll Get Paid Well To Be a Pediatric Nurse
As of January 26, 2024, pediatric nurses earn an average salary of $79,000 in the United States, with the typical range falling between $71,600 and $90,400.
Among the factors affecting salaries are the employer and the place of employment. For example, pediatric nurses at schools earn much less than those at prestigious children’s hospitals.
Salary will also depend on:
- Where you work
- Level of education
- Years worked as a pediatric nurse
- Type of facility where you are employed
#6: Pediatric Nurses Are in High-Demand
One of the great benefits of being a pediatric nurse is job security. There will always be a need for pediatric nurses and this need is expected to grow.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the anticipated job growth from 2022 to 2032 is 6%. Currently, there are 614,706 pediatric nurse job openings in the U.S. It is also projected that there will be 195,400 new pediatric nurse jobs within the next decade.
#7: You’ll Have the Opportunity To Teach Children About Their Health and Well-Being
In other specialties, nurses often see adult patients with established bad health habits.
However, pediatric nurses have the opportunity to influence the health of future generations by teaching good health habits before harmful ones are established.
You will be able to teach your young patients the importance of taking care of their bodies, minds, and spirits through good hygiene, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity.
#8: You’ll Have the Opportunity To Help Children Recover From Illnesses
It is common for children to approach a difficult situation with optimism because they don’t yet carry the weight of life-induced cynicism.
Children are generally more honest about their symptoms, making diagnosis and monitoring easier.
Another pro of being a pediatric nurse is that you get to work with the same patients during their stay. This makes it easy for pediatric nurses to establish close relationships with patients and their families, which can be invaluable when it comes to helping patients cope with illness.
#9: You’ll Be Part of a Team That Is Dedicated to Patient Care
As part of a healthcare team, the pediatric nurse is essential and will be involved in all decisions regarding patient care.
With the help of a team of compassionate and experienced healthcare professionals, you can provide the best possible care to your patients.
In addition to nurses, members of the healthcare team may include:
- Physicians
- Residents
- Child life specialists
- Social workers
- Occupational and physical therapists; and
- Speech-language pathologists
#10: You’ll Enjoy the Competitive Advantage That a Pediatric Nursing Career Provides
Another great reason to be a pediatric nurse is that it provides competitive advantages, such as:
- Earning potential
- Job security; and
- Opportunities for growth
Whether you’re a first-time travel nurse or a seasoned professional, with the help of Pronto and Trusted Nurse Staffing you can begin your lucrative and fulfilling career as a pediatric travel nurse.
The Pronto job search allows you to search thousands of pediatric nursing positions all across the country. Can’t find a position that meets your standards? Don’t give up! You can turn on notifications and Pronto will let you know when a perfect fit becomes available.
What Are the Requirements To Be a Pediatric Nurse?
To achieve your goal of becoming a pediatric nurse, you will need intensive education and clinical training, including completing the following steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree in nursing.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Gain experience as an RN.
- Pass the certification exam for pediatric nurses through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
It takes time to pursue a pediatric nursing career, but the joy of helping children and families is well worth the effort.
What Are the Opportunities for Growth as a Pediatric Nurse?
Those who have worked as pediatric nurses for a while may want to consider other positions where their medical expertise with children and families will be of value.
Some of these positions include:
- Nurse practitioner (NP) — NPs can be the primary caregivers for their patients. They can examine, diagnose, and treat medical conditions.
- Genetic counselor — Through interviews, genetic counselors gain a deeper understanding of their client’s medical histories. A genetic condition might be screened with specific tests they recommend.
- School nurse — Nurses specializing in children’s care may find it rewarding to take their knowledge to a different setting and become school nurses. School nurses’ average salaries are on par with nurses working in other settings, plus they also benefit from regular school hours and breaks.
- Pediatrician — A pediatric nurse can pursue additional education to become a pediatrician.
- Pediatric travel nurse — Travel to healthcare facilities in dire need of pediatric nurses and make a difference all across the United States.
Trusted Nurse Staffing is on a mission to help pediatric travel nurses spread their talents and skills across the country. We make it easy to find travel nursing positions with Pronto.
You can use Pronto to find the perfect travel nursing assignment for your qualifications and needs. Sign up to begin your search today.
Best States To Work as a Pediatric Travel Nurse in 2024
Add these 10 states to your list of reasons why you should become a pediatric travel nurse:
- Washington
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 4,763
- Average annual salary: $86,565
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000
- New York
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 6,810
- Average annual salary: $93,153
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000
- California
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 12,303
- Average annual salary: $109,841
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000
- Oregon
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 1,963
- Average annual salary: $87,932
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000
- Louisiana
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 2,311
- Average annual salary: $72,654
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
- Nevada
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 988
- Average annual salary: $84,378
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
- Florida
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 16,090
- Average annual salary: $73,358
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000
- Pennsylvania
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 7,329
- Average annual salary: $74,588
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
- Ohio
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 5,923
- Average annual salary: $74,094
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000
- Illinois
- Total pediatric nurse jobs: 5,723
- Average annual salary: $81,727
- Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
- Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Trusted Nurse Staffing: Helping Nurses Make a Difference in the Lives of Children All Over the Nation
If pediatric travel nursing is your dream job, we can help turn that dream into a reality.
With Trusted Nurse Staffing, you can find temporary jobs that give you work flexibility and the chance to travel while enjoying a fulfilling and rewarding career in pediatric nursing.
The benefits of being a pediatric travel nurse are endless.
Work six, eight, or 13-week contracts practically anywhere in the United States. Make new memories and meet new people. Grow your strengths as a nurse and pad your resume.
Why should you choose Trusted Nurse Staffing?
Along with being one of the highest-paying travel nurse agencies in the industry, we also offer our travel nurses:
- 401(k) with a 4% match after 1,000 hours and 1 year of employment
- Sign-on, referral, and loyalty bonuses
- Health insurance
- Dental and vision insurance
- Portable permanent whole life insurance
- License, certifications & CEU reimbursements
- And more
Trusted Nurse Staffing has created the Pronto job search to help nurses easily and quickly find the travel nursing job of their dreams.
If you’re new to travel nursing, we can help you navigate signing your contract, finding housing, and more once you’ve found a position on Pronto. If you’re a seasoned travel nurse, you can manage every aspect of your contract through Pronto — and we will always be there to help if the need arises!
Use Pronto, powered by Trusted Nurse Staffing, to begin your journey as a pediatric travel nurse today.