what is a paediatric nurse?
As a paediatric nurse, you focus on children's medical care from infancy to teenage years. Your role is important since children's health is different from adults'. When children are developing and growing, they need adequate care and attention. You usually work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide medical care and support children during treatment.
Your role may involve administering childhood immunisations or vaccinations and ensuring children are updated with the vaccination schedule. You also communicate with children and their families and make them comfortable throughout the treatment. You explain the health condition to the parents and help them talk to their children about the changes that a condition brings.
Sometimes, a paediatric nurse teaches other health professionals about children's health. You may work in hospitals or accompany the community nurse to administer vaccinations to children in communities. Your job also involves conducting clinical research on various health conditions affecting children in a specific region. The research helps you discover appropriate treatment methods for some conditions.
As a paediatric nurse, you are likely to work in a hospital, paediatric clinic or school. You can also work in care homes or hospices for children with terminal illnesses. Some paediatric nurses work for social services or government agencies to help children in social care.
Would working in health as a paediatric nurse suit your interest in working with children? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a paediatric nurse role.
paediatric nurse salary
According to National Careers, the median salary of a paediatric nurse with minimal experience is £25,654 per year. When you have a couple of years of experience, your earnings can increase to around £39,026 annually.
Your salary includes medical and life insurance. You also get benefits like paid holidays and house and transport allowances. Some hospitals pay higher hourly rates for overtime hours.
how to increase your salary as a paediatric nurse
Employers pay higher salaries to paediatric nurses with exceptional skills and knowledge. As a paediatric nurse, you can increase your salary prospects by advancing your education. Since all paediatric nurses are registered, you already have a degree and a few certifications. If you add a master's degree or advanced certification, you can negotiate higher pay.
Specialising in areas like paediatric intensive care units or emergency rooms earns you a higher salary than someone working in a clinic. Other specialisations that increase your compensation package are paediatric oncology and cardiology. Apart from specialisation, you can improve your work experience through voluntary work and internships. Being a paediatric nurse is challenging, and if you practice for a couple of years, you will have the confidence to take on more responsibilities and earn more.
types of paediatric nurses
Types of paediatric nurses depend on the area of specialisation, including:
- neonatal nurse: your job is to provide care and support to infants. You specialise in children born prematurely or with congenital disabilities, heart deformities and infections. You are likely to work in neonatal intensive care units monitoring babies' vital signs and educating parents on their child's illness and progress.
- developmental disability nurse: as a paediatric nurse, you can specialise in providing care to children with developmental disabilities like autism, Down's syndrome, Rett syndrome and Asperger's syndrome. You may assist with feeding and bodily functions. You also help in developing a child's communication skills.
- palliative paediatric nurse: your job is to care for terminally-ill children. You relieve suffering and provide the best quality care. You also prepare the families for the inevitable and assist with the necessary medical equipment for providing life support.
working as a paediatric nurse
Working as a paediatric nurse requires a lot of dedication and passion for providing specialised care. You also handle various specialised roles.
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paediatric nurse job description
While the specific duties depend on your specialisation and employer, typical roles of a paediatric nurse include:
- assessing the patient's condition: as a paediatric nurse, you perform the initial examination on the child to determine their overall well-being. That includes taking temperature readings and measuring vital signs. You can also examine their body for swelling and other conditions. You check the nose, eye and ears for anomalies and record the information in the medical files.
- observing patients and writing down treatment plans: as a paediatric nurse, you are part of the multidisciplinary team, and you attend doctor's consultation meetings with children. You inform the doctor of your observations and patient symptoms and write down the doctor's diagnosis, recommended medicines or treatment plans.
- administering patient treatments: as a paediatric nurse, you need to make children feel comfortable in the hospital environment as you administer treatments. You can explain how to take medicine and help them to follow their prescriptions.
- teaching patients and families about post-treatment care: as a paediatric nurse, you communicate with parents and patients throughout the treatment process. It is important to emphasise the methods of managing symptoms and speeding up recovery. If the child has a terminal illness, you can guide the parents on ways to adjust their lifestyles to improve the patient's care.
- monitoring children's condition in intensive care: as a paediatric nurse, you may work in the intensive care unit to monitor young patients' progress. Your job is to operate medical equipment and monitor vitals for signs of life-threatening reactions to medication or surgical procedures.
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work environment
As a paediatric nurse, you work in children's hospitals, medical centres and outpatient clinics. Most large hospitals have a dedicated children's wing with specialised facilities, including playrooms and intensive care units. You can also join social services that provide medical treatments to children living in small communities. When you work with community nurses, you provide immunisation and work from community health centres or coordinate external campaigns. Some paediatric nurses also work in neonatal intensive care units that require a high hygiene level to protect premature babies from infections. On the hospital floor, you have to wear uniforms like other registered nurses, while in ICU, you need additional protective clothing to prevent infections.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on the healthcare setting you choose to work in, you are likely to work alongside registered nurses, midwives and paediatricians. You may also be working with counsellors and community nurses, as well as other specialists like doctors, oncologists and mental health nurses.
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work schedule
A paediatric nurse typically works 35 to 40 hours a week. However, if you work in a hospital, you work in shifts to provide round-the-clock care to patients. Part-time opportunities are available in clinics and social care work. When you work full-time, you are likely to work overtime and occasionally during weekends. If your employer has a shift schedule, sometimes you have to work night shifts or early mornings. Paediatric nurses can also work on public holidays. Since you provide hands-on care, you cannot work remotely.
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job outlook
As a paediatric nurse, you work towards becoming a paediatrician or GP. Apart from progressing upwards, you can specialise in various fields in paediatric nursing, like becoming a palliative paediatric nurse. The role allows you to provide personalised care to children with terminal illnesses and conditions. If you enjoy working in cardiology or oncology, you can become a paediatric nurse.
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advantages of finding a paediatric nurse job through randstad
Finding your paediatric nurse job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a paediatric nurse is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Become a paediatric nurse with the following educational qualifications:
- university course: you can become a paediatric nurse by completing a children's nursing degree from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Some degree providers allow you to juggle nursing specialisations alongside the children's nursing degree. If you have a degree in a health-related subject, you can join children's nursing in the second year. You need 3 A Levels or a Level 3 diploma in nursing for the bachelor's degree.
- apprenticeship: you can pursue a nursing associate higher apprenticeship if you already work in a healthcare setting. The apprenticeship takes four years and combines coursework with on-the-job training. You need 4 to 5 GCSEs to join the apprenticeship.
skills and competencies
The qualities needed by a paediatric nurse include:
- communication skills: as a paediatric nurse, you need exceptional verbal and written communication skills. You have to create and write forms for patient needs and update a patient's file. Verbal skills help you communicate with children effectively and ease their fears during medical procedures.
- interpersonal skills: as a paediatric nurse, you work with other healthcare professionals to administer patient care. You need teamwork skills to ensure the patient receives treatment on time. People skills also help you deal with parents experiencing a stressful time. You need to form a trusting relationship and support child patients and their families.
- technology: as a paediatric nurse, you may deal with chronic and terminal illnesses. Sometimes, your role involves taking care of patients on life support. You need expertise in operating various medical equipment.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a paediatric nurse
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what does a paediatric nurse do?
A paediatric nurse provides medical care to children. They take care of children during diagnosis, administer treatment and provide post-treatment care and counselling.
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what educational qualifications do paediatric nurses need?
A paediatric nurse needs a degree in children's nursing and accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can also join the profession through an apprenticeship.
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how long does it take to become a paediatric nurse?
The full-time degree course in children's nursing takes three years. However, with a degree in a health-related field, you can start your paediatric nursing in the second year.
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what jobs can you do with a paediatric nursing degree?
You can explore other careers besides paediatric nursing with a paediatric nursing degree. For instance, you can become a social worker, child psychologist or midwife.
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Is children's nursing a good career?
Paediatric nursing is a rewarding career that offers endless learning opportunities and diverse career prospects.
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how do I apply for a paediatric nurse vacancy?
Applying for a paediatric nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
