Career Profile
ExploreHealthCareers.org/pediatricnurse
Pediatric Nurse
Academic Requirements
To become a pediatric nurse, you must first achieve certification as a registered nurse (RN). Earn a Bachelor’s in Nursing at an accredited four-year college, or an associates degree or diploma. Take classes in early childhood development and consider volunteering or finding part-time work in a child-centered environment, such as a day care center or school. After graduation, you must pass a national licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN to practice as a registered nurse.
Once you’re certified, find a job as an RN in the office of a pediatrician or family doctor, or in the pediatric department of a hospital. Take advantage of “in-service” training and other opportunities to learn more about the unique health and developmental needs of children and adolescents. If you want to work with newborns (neonatal care), children who have cancer, children with emotional or developmental disabilities, or children who are critically ill, you may need additional training in those nursing skills, as well.
Once you’ve polished and demonstrated your nursing skills, you can pursue specialized training toward a certificate in pediatric nursing. Or, you may choose to earn a Master’s degree in nursing to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) or a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Pediatrics. PNPs are allowed to make diagnoses, prescribe medication and manage care. To become a PNP or CNS, you have to take an exam and meet state certification and continuing education requirements.
In addition to nursing knowledge and practical skills, pediatric nurses must have the ability to form rapid connections with their juvenile patients. Children are often afraid to “go to the doctor,” so the pediatric nurse must be able to dispel that fear and quickly earn the child’s trust. These skills can be learned, but many pediatric nurses are people who are naturally “good with kids.”
It also helps to be a quick thinker who can stay calm under pressure. Children know when an adult seems “worried,” so pediatric nurses must be able to smile through even the most distressing situations.
You have to take care of yourself, as well. Working with children who are sick is emotionally draining. Burnout is common among pediatric nurses.