Become A Pediatric Nurse
If you are one of those who like to serve your fellow humans, they why not become a pediatric nurse? But, if you think that being such a nurse is simply taking care of ailing kids, then you are wrong! This is no easy job. In fact, being such a nurse is one of the toughest professions!
Qualities Of A Pediatric Nurse
The first need is a nursing degree in your hand. Some hospitals might expect you to enroll for specialty classes so that you are able to work with young patients. You need to be updated on your knowledge, since the doses of medicines, treatments, and such things for young patients vary from that of adult ones.
The next essential quality of a pediatric nurse is a compassionate and firm attitude. Don’t expect to handle children with a stone heart. You need to show a lot of patience as well as compassion to the kids and their families. But, at the same time, you need to be firm. Don’t be so soft-hearted that you skip a treatment just because a kid feels pain. Being gentle and firm simultaneously works wonders for handling kid patients.
In addition to this, you need to know how to build a rapport with children. Moreover, kids demand respect too. Just because they are smaller in age doesn’t mean you can handle them in any way you like. Do you know that kids are a perceptive lot? They, at once, recognize who is not comfortable working with them. In other words, if you dislike kids, please don’t choose this profession!
Work Of A Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses are usually appointed at the emergency wards. They are skilled in performing the following tasks:
Catheterizations for collection of stool and urine samples,
commencing IVs, determining important symptoms of temperature, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate. They use Snellen charts for checking vision and cardiopulmonary monitors for checking heart and respiration rates. Carrying out fundamental eye examinations. Administering intramuscular as well as intravenous medications. Conducting parent and patient counseling sessions. Administering blood. Carrying out head to toe examinations. Assisting patients with fractured limbs or splinting. Measuring blood pressure. Making use of sphygmomanometers as well as stethoscopes for the examinations of different organs like heart, lungs, and abdomen.
Specialized training is a must to continue working as a pediatric nurse. You can obtain it by enrolling for an internal training program. Such programs are offered by hospitals where you will be appointed. You can also opt for certified programs that specialize in pediatrics, after completing your degree program.
Many organizations provide special classes in pediatrics. Several of such courses include Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) that is a part of American Heart Association and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course, conducted by Emergency Nurses Association. You can even join various nursing societies of pediatric nurses.
There are hundreds of ways to serve your fellow humans. Becoming a pediatric nurse is one of them. Go for it!