Do you love kids? Are you passionate about changing children’s lives for the better? If you’re thinking about becoming a practical nurse (PN), you can get a job in a pediatrics clinic with no additional training or experience. It’s a fantastic opportunity for meaningful work in a career you can be excited about in a fast-growing field that’s high in demand for new help. Find out more about pediatric PNs, their duties, and how to become one in this brief guide from Prism Career Institute.
A Highly Demanded Field
Pediatrics is the field of healthcare that involves infants, children, and teens. It’s also one of the specializations that’s most in-demand for nurses of all kinds, including PNs.
Not only is pediatrics a field in increasing demand, but many pediatric PNs say it’s highly rewarding. If you have a passion for children, a job in pediatrics will allow you to work with them closely on a daily basis. You’ll help them feel safe and comfortable while receiving the treatments they need to find relief from their symptoms and maintain overall health.
The Responsibilities of a Pediatric PN
As a pediatric PN, you’ll be working under the direct supervision of a physician or registered nurse while caring for hurt, sick, or recuperating children. Specific responsibilities often vary between employers and positions. In general, however, you can expect to perform tasks such as:
- Managing patient medical records
- Taking and recording vital signs
- Preparing and giving injections
- Dressing minor wounds
- Assisting with tests and procedures
- Helping patients with bathing and dressing
- Providing assistance with basic hygiene
Skills You’ll Need to Succeed
As with any field, you’ll need a few skills to succeed as a pediatric PN. Most of them can be gained from practical training and coursework while earning your PN education at Prism Career Institute. On top of basic medical know-how, you’ll also need written communication skills, administrative abilities, and other qualities that will be important to have in any office. You’ll also spend lots of time on your feet, so it helps to be physically fit.
Above all, remember that you’ll be working with children. This kind of work requires a degree of patience and compassion beyond what most other jobs will demand, even within the medical field. Healthcare facilities can be stressful for everyone – especially for children who get frightened in an unfamiliar place. You’ll need to be able to communicate with them, explain the situation, empathize with their fears, and be patient when they react. Qualities like this will make you invaluable on any medical staff.
Seek a PN Career in Pediatrics
Pediatric nursing careers are currently seeing rapid growth. If you enjoy working with children and are looking for a job that’s meaningful, becoming a pediatric PN might be right for you. When you’re ready, start your PN training with Prism Career Institute. Our practical nursing program is available at our campuses in West Atlantic City and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, as well as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Learn more about why you should choose Prism Career Institute, or call our admissions department today at 888-966-8146.