Pediatric nurses perform the same general tasks and duties as regular certified nurses, the sole difference is that they specialize in the treatment of children, infants as well as teenagers. Pediatric nurses can work in many different settings, from hospitals and private centers to outpatient care centers, and they perform routine tasks like checking the blood pressure and the temperature of the child, measuring their height and weight and providing primary medical care services. The median yearly wage of a pediatric nurse varies greatly, but on average these health care providers tend to make between $60,000 and $70,000 a year.
Pay Scale In Different Parts Of The United States of America
The highest paying state for pediatric nurses is certainly the state of California, as here these professionals can make as much as $117,000 a year. The state of New York also tends to pay its pediatric nurses median wages that exceed $100,000 a year, while the state of Texas tends to pay them salaries between $30,000 and up to $70,000 a year, which generally tends to be lower than the national average. In Florida, pediatric nurses can make as much as $80,000 per year, while in Florida they make between $40,000 and $65,000 a year.
Pediatric Nurse Job Description
Pediatric nurses provide primary medical care to children of all ages: they assess the overall health status and medical history of the child, they pay attention to their medical and cultural needs and they also administer the treatment prescribed by their health care provider. However, it must be mentioned that pediatric nurses do not work exclusively with children, as these professionals can also work with younger adults or teenagers.
Amongst the most common job duties and responsibilities of a pediatric nurse, there is assessing and reporting the general condition of the patients, setting up blood transfusions, checking the intravenous infusions, administering injections and medications or assisting different medical tests and evaluations. Also, these nurses can also update the medical record of the patient, write reports, observe the hygiene, the signs and symptoms of the patient or engage in multidisciplinary teamwork.
How To Become A Pediatric Nurse?
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If you have decided to pursue a career in the science of nursing and become a pediatric nurse, then it is important to earn your degree. Conduct thorough research on the different nursing schools and programs available in your state, and pick only the reputable and accredited ones. Once you got accepted into the nursing training program, do your best to study hard and after that consider becoming an APN, or an advanced practice nurse.
The credential of advanced practice nurse is provided by the state board of nursing in your state, and the eligibility requirements may vary greatly across the United States of America. As a pediatric nurse, it is very important to understand that experience is of paramount importance, this is why it is highly recommended to get your hands-on experience either in a pediatric after-hour care facility or in the private office of a pediatrician. Once you have managed to gather all the necessary practical experience, you can move on to enrolling in one of the numerous internship programs that are available. It is also highly recommended to consider volunteering work, as this will not only look good on your CV, but it will also help you enrich your skills and knowledge.
The final step is becoming a CPN or a Certified Pediatric nurse which requires taking the national certification exam that is administered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Certification
If you have decided to pursue a certification and to become a certified pediatric nurse, then it is important to meet all the eligibility requirements, and then to sit for the exam and to pass it. After that you will become a RNBC, or a Registered Nurse Board Certified.
Pediatric Nurse Salary In Canada, Australia And The United Kingdom
In Canada, the median yearly salary of a pediatric nurse ranges between Ca$41,000 and Ca$80,000, while in Australia it ranges between Au$24,000 and Au$60,000, while in the United Kingdom a pediatric nurse gets a mean yearly wage of around 27,000 pounds.
Verdict On Pediatric Nurse Salary
To summarize, the salary of a pediatric nurse can easily exceed $100,000 in some states of the USA, and if you are genuinely passionate about working with children, then this may be the best choice for you.
