Pediatric NursingCourtney Ashley

Mrs. OwensENG 1105

Content:

Abstract Introduction Duties of a Pediatric Registered Nurse Education Employment Outlook Salary Work Environment Works Cited

AbstractRegistered Nurses play a vital role in many

aspects of medical care.

This growing field is constantly evolving to meet the requirements and maintain the guidelines for appropriate medical care.

Those interested in becoming a Pediatric RN

should fully investigate all areas of the career.

Registered Nurses are often more visible to patients and their families during a hospital stay than anyone else.

Play a vital role in every aspect of patient care. Responsible for everything from dispensing medications, chart documentation, gathering vital signs and responding to emergency codes.

Rewarding career allowing constant interaction with younger patients.

Duties of a Pediatric RN

A few of the daily duties include: Starting IV’s Obtaining vital signs Collecting urine and stool samples Administering medications Maintaining proper medical records Performing CPR and response to emergency codes Parent and patient teaching and counseling - must

be able to reassure, educate and encourage both the patient and family

Education Required

Most colleges offer one of the two main types of degrees:The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN):two-year program usually offered by an accredited technical

college or community college. The Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN):

four-year degree offered by many college universities.

Then, the graduate must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to receive license.

Having more specific training such as Pediatric Basic Trauma Life Support may also be required. Pediatric RN’s have special training in child development, cognitive functions and general

developmental milestones of a child.

Employment Outlook

In general, the medical field has an excellent employment outlook.

The demand for nurses is far greater than the current supply available.

In 2004, nurses accounted for 2.4 million jobs.

The demand for pediatric nursing positions is expected to continue to increase as the focus changes to preventative medical care.

Salary Varies depending on the area of the county you live in, the

type of facility you are employed with and the amount of education and training you have obtained.

On average, a pediatric RN can expect to earn anywhere between $38,000 and $70,000.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2004 the median salary for a Pediatric RN with an ADN was $49,330.

Critical shortages of nurses over the past two decades has led to better working conditions and increased salaries.

Work Environment

Usually employed in hospital settings, but can also be found in doctor’s offices, urgent care clinics, schools and Home Health agencies.

Those employed in hospitals usually have a choice of shifts. Some choose twelve-hour shifts, some prefer eight hour shifts and some only work weekends.

Works Cited

Novotny, Jeanne and Doris Lippman, Nicole Sanders and Joyce Fitzpatrick. 101 Careers in Nursing. New York: Springer Publishing Company, Inc., 2003.

Pediatric Nursing FAQ. Pediatricnursing.com. May 15, 2009.

http://www.pediatricnursing.com/faq.html. Pediatric Registered Nurse Career Summary.

Diplomaguide.com. May 15, 2009. http://diplomaguide.com/articles/Pediatric_Registered_Nurse_Career _Summary.html

Quan, Kathy. The Everything Guide to Careers in Health Care. Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2007.

Vallano, Annette. Your Career In Nursing. New York: Kaplan Publishing, 2006.