Skills Needed by a Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nursing commonly known as child health nursing involves the care of infants, children and adolescents. A person who specialises in this area is called a pediatric nurse. Most pediatric nurses work in hospitals. The job responsibilities vary depending on each hospital but the common duties of a pediatric nurse includes following child checkups, giving some vaccinations, educating the parents of the children and acting as a communication tool between the doctor and the family of the child. Before you can become a pediatric nurse you should have certain valuable skills that will make your job easier and more fulfilling.
In order to be a pediatric nurse you must be a registered nurse (RN).Education can be completed through a medical hospital or an educational institution. You can start from studying for a nursing diploma, after which you can study for a nursing degree. For those who have greater aspirations they can go on and study for a nursing masters degree. In as much as you can have the qualifications of being a pediatric nurse it is crucial that you have some other skills beside the nursing education.
Being a pediatric nurse requires a person who is dedicated to the job because you will have a lot of responsibilities.If working in a hospitalyou will be required to work five days a week for between eight to twelve hours a day. This is usually shift work and you should be prepared to work any time of the day or night.
You will definitely need to be friendly with people, especially with children because you will be working with them on a daily basis. As a pediatric nurse, you will only be dealing with patients who are children so it is crucial that you have genuine love for them. Children are often sensitive to people they do not know. So when a child comes in for treatment and is in pain you will have to show that you are friendly so that the child can open up and make the treatment easier. It is important that you also have good communication skills. This job entails a lot of talking with the doctors, parents and the children who would have come for treatment.
A pediatric nurse should be patient at work. This skill is important because there is likely to be a lot of negotiation and enticing for the children to accept treatment. If you give up easily then you will not become a good pediatric nurse. It is important to like children and relate to them closely.
You should also possess the skills of being good at supervision and assessment. Since you will be dealing with sick children it is essential for you to have good assessment skills to note anything about the child that would need to be brought to the attention of the doctor. These skills would make you a good pediatric nurse.
It is important that you should have empathy. In some cases children can pass away and you should be able to cope with grief at the same time that you provide support for the parents who would have lost their child.
Flexibility is also another skill that is needed for one to be a pediatric nurse. Often children respond differently to adults. As a nurse you will have to find a way of getting around problems that children can give you. A good pediatric nurse will have to ensure that all necessary treatment is given.
As a conclusion, being a pediatric nurse is demanding and the job requires a person who enjoys interacting with children. If you truly love children, being a pediatric nurse will make your career worthwhile.
