Pediatric nurses play an essential role in providing quality care to children in their most vulnerable times. As a pediatric nurse, you are expected to be knowledgeable and compassionate in order to make a positive impact on the emotional and physical well-being of children and their families. While there are many rewarding aspects of pediatric nursing, it is also important to understand the potential challenges that come with the job. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of being a pediatric nurse, so that those considering this career path can make an informed decision. The advantages of being a pediatric nurse include the opportunity to have a direct and positive impact on the lives of children, the chance to form meaningful relationships with families, and the potential for personal and professional growth. On the other hand, the disadvantages include high stress levels, time constraints, and the need to balance clinical responsibilities with emotional care. This post will provide an overview of the positive and negative aspects of being a pediatric nurse, as well as some
Pros of being a pediatric nurse
There are numerous benefits to working as a pediatric nurse. Your decision to work in this field may be influenced by your understanding of some of these advantages. Here are seven advantages of becoming a pediatric nurse:
1. Ability to work with children
To provide children with comprehensive medical care, pediatric nurses maintain close relationships with them. They frequently treat patients at different stages of their development and get to see them mature into healthy young adults. They offer assistance to kids undergoing medical procedures, tests, or surgeries. Many children can find comfort in these nurses, who can also give them hope for their medical care and treatment plans.
2. Interactions with others
Pediatric nurses spend a lot of time with children, but they also have many other interactions with people throughout the course of the day. To comprehend a child’s treatment plans and communicate about a patient’s progress, these nurses collaborate closely with doctors and medical professionals. They communicate with a child’s parents or other caregivers on a regular basis to inform them of the child’s treatment. Additionally, pediatric nurses communicate with other nurses in their department to exchange information and ask questions.
3. Career satisfaction
Pediatric nurses assist in treating and curing children who are ill or injured. Pediatric nurses can make a difference in emergency situations by saving children’s lives. They may also help with children’s yearly physicals and ensure that they are up to date on any necessary medical procedures, such as vaccinations. Pediatric nurses can contribute to a child’s health’s maintenance or improvement by offering these services. These results may lead to pediatric nurses experiencing very high levels of career satisfaction and helping them feel fulfilled at work.
4. Diverse responsibilities
From newborns to teenagers, pediatric nurses provide care for children of all ages. They frequently have a variety of job responsibilities because they work with a wide range of patients. For instance, the course of treatment for an infection in a baby may be very different from that for the same infection in a teenager. Pediatric nurses must have a thorough understanding of pediatric development and medical conditions in order to care for a variety of patients. This variety can support pediatric nurses in continuing to enjoy their work.
5. Trusted profession
Many people think that being a nurse is a respectable and worthwhile profession. Pediatric nurses speak with parents or other caregivers to answer their questions regarding a child’s care plan because they have extensive knowledge of childhood illnesses and ailments. Doctors and other healthcare professionals typically treat them with respect because they recognize their significant contributions to the healthcare team. Pediatric nurses may feel more motivated to work in this field and feel as though they have a worthwhile job due to the public’s perception of and respect for them.
6. Appreciation
Pediatric nurses frequently receive recognition and appreciation for their contributions to a child’s health improvement. Pediatric nurses may receive handwritten notes or drawings from children, which they may treasure as mementos of their patients. Pediatric nurses frequently receive appreciation from the child’s parents for their care and support when they contribute to the child’s success. This gratitude and affirmation can increase pediatric nurses’ feelings of value and patient engagement.
7. Salary
What does a pediatric nurse do?
A registered nurse (RN) with a focus on caring for infants, kids, and teenagers is known as a pediatric nurse. As a member of a child’s clinical care team, these nurses collaborate closely with doctors, families, and other healthcare professionals. They frequently serve as a communication intermediary between kids, parents, and doctors. Pediatric nurses may be charged with a variety of duties because they deal with children of various ages. Some of their common duties include:
Cons of being a pediatric nurse
While training to be a pediatric nurse has many advantages, there are some drawbacks as well. You can decide whether the benefits of this career outweigh the drawbacks by being aware of them. Seven potential drawbacks of working as a pediatric nurse are listed below:
1. Communication problems
To help patients understand their care plans, nurses listen to their patients’ worries and address their inquiries about medical procedures and treatments. Pediatric nurses may find it difficult to communicate with their patients because they are caring for children, especially if a child is too young to understand why they need medical treatment. Other kids might be anxious about their care, which could make them unresponsive and refuse to respond to a nurse’s questions. Pediatric nurses frequently use their imagination to come up with new means of communication to address these issues.
2. Frustrated parents
Pediatric nurses may come across parents or other caregivers who are unhappy with the course of treatment for their child. When pediatric nurses convey a doctor’s changes to a child’s medical treatment or talk about an unexpected complication, these parents may occasionally become irate. Nursing professionals understand that parents and other caregivers may be anxious or stressed about their child’s health. They can sympathize with these parents and lend a hand as they navigate the situation.
3. Stress
For a variety of reasons, pediatric nurses may experience stress in their work. They might have a lot of patients if they’re one of the few pediatric nurses at a clinic or hospital. The many duties associated with their job, such as keeping track of patients and corresponding with doctors, could cause them stress. Some pediatric nurses may experience more pressure at work because they become emotionally attached to their patients and want the best for them. Developing stress management techniques for these nurses, such as breathing exercises or taking quick breaks, can be beneficial.
4. Workplace hazards
These professionals may come into contact with various workplace hazards while working as pediatric nurses. By coming into contact with a patient’s bodily fluids, a pediatric nurse runs the risk of contracting a virus or other pathogen. They might work with chemicals, like those in chemotherapy drugs. Pediatric nurses frequently have to lift or carry patients, which can be physically taxing. Despite the numerous safety measures they take, pediatric nurses are still at risk from these workplace dangers.
5. Schedule
Many pediatric nurses put in long shifts, especially those who work in hospitals. Often, these nurses work 12-hour shifts three days a week. Nursing staff may find it difficult to take breaks because they frequently have multiple patients to monitor at once. If there are staffing shortages or patient emergencies, a nurse manager may occasionally request an overtime shift from a pediatric nurse. Due to their frequent weekend and holiday shifts, pediatric nurses may have less time to spend with their loved ones.
6. Lengthy education process
Before a registered nurse can start specializing in pediatrics, it can take many years. The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) is typically taken after they complete their undergraduate nursing degree. Most nurses who are interested in pediatrics then work as registered nurses for at least two years to gain experience in the field. They can decide if they want to pursue pediatrics as a specialty thanks to this experience. Many nurses decide to pursue advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) after gaining experience, which calls for a graduate degree with a pediatrics specialization.
7. Death of patients
Pediatric nurses may be present at the deaths of children with serious injuries or chronic illnesses because they are healthcare professionals. Pediatric nurses work with young children, so these situations can be particularly trying. For nurses, it can be traumatizing to see the parents’ or caregivers’ suffering. Pediatric nurses can keep their mental health by learning coping mechanisms, such as ways to separate their personal lives from their professional ones.
PEDIATRIC NURSING ASSUMPTIONS | True or False
FAQ
What are the pros of being a pediatric nurse?
Dealing with parents who are excessively controlling is a drawback of pediatric nursing. In times of stress and worry, emotions run high. Sometimes these feelings may be directed toward nurses. Parents may feel that the nurses are not doing enough.
Is it worth being a pediatric nurse?
- Ability to work with children. To provide children with comprehensive medical care, pediatric nurses maintain close relationships with them.
- Interactions with others. …
- Career satisfaction. …
- Diverse responsibilities. …
- Trusted profession. …
- Appreciation. …
- Salary.
What types of problems do pediatric nurses face?
There are interesting challenges and great rewards in pediatric nursing. You have the chance to work with both children and their families. Pediatrics may be a good specialty to consider if you enjoy working with children and feel at ease around them.
