Your Future in Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric nursing is a challenging and rewarding career! If you are exploring pediatric nursing as a future career or if you need information for a report, check out the information below to find out more:

Pediatric Nurses

Pediatric Nurses provide care to infants, children and adolescents. After graduating from nursing school (at a college, university, or hospital) with either an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, they take an exam called the NCLEX to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN). The nurse then specializes in pediatrics by finding employment in a healthcare setting that serves pediatric patients. This setting could be a hospital clinic, school, doctor's office, emergency room, hospital floor or intensive care unit. Pediatric nurses know a lot about the growth and development of children, and they need to be skilled at communication with both their patients and caregivers.

Want to know more? For an in-depth look, see our article, "What Do Pediatric Nurses Do?".

You can find additional information at the The Society of Pediatric Nurses website. Your school or neighborhood library can help too!

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) also play a special role in the lives of young people, both sick and healthy. To become one, you'll need to go to school for at least two years after earning a bachelor's degree, and you'll need to apply to your state board of nursing to be recognized as an advanced practice nurse. There is a separate exam that must be passed in order for a pediatric nurse to practice as a PNP.

Like pediatric nurses, PNPs work in a variety of settings, such as medical offices or hospitals, and they are able to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medication. They may see children for routine exams, or they may take care of children with serious or chronic conditions.

Visit The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) website or the the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) website for additional information.

Your school or local public library will also offer books on nursing careers.