Learn More about Pediatric Nursing!

Education
The first step to becoming a pediatric nurse is to become a licensed registered nurse. That requirement is met with a bachelor's of science in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing or a nursing diploma from an accredited institution. Upon completion of one of these programs, nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN, a national exam required for licensing. After receiving a license to practice as an RN, nurses wanting to specialize in pediatrics typically seek employment in a child-centered setting, such as a pediatrician's office, a child care facility or a children's hospital.

Where They Work
Pediatric nurses work in all health care settings that involve children, including hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and surgical centers. They also work in schools and for community organizations that provide medical services for children, many of whom have little or no access to health care.

What They Do
According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, a pediatric nurse typically works in collaboration with a physician who is a pediatric or family medicine specialist. The duties of pediatric nurses are similar to duties of nurses in other departments. They conduct physical examinations, measure vital statistics, take urine and blood samples, and request diagnostic tests. Pediatric nurses with advanced expertise may interpret test results, make diagnoses and develop treatment plans. These nurses often work in acute care departments, such as the pediatric critical care unit, neonatal unit and pediatric oncology ward. Pediatric nurses typically have more interaction with the patient's family than nurses do in other departments.

Advancement
Many pediatric nurses take additional training and test to become certified pediatric nurses, or CPNs. Beyond that, a pediatric nurse may earn a master's degree with specialization as a pediatric nurse practitioner, or PNP, or clinical nurse specialist in pediatrics, or CNS. A PNP may prescribe medications, make diagnoses and manage care.

Salary
According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, pediatric nurses earn on average from $48,000 to $68,000 a year. Salaries vary according to geographic location, level of education, experience and the type of facility where employed. Experienced pediatric nurses may make $100,000 or more per

Growth and Development Test Question

Growth and Development Test Question

1.Iron supplement begins at
a. 2-4 mos.
b. 4-6 mos.

2. Hepatitis B is to be given at:
a. 2 and 6 mos.
b. 2-4 mos.

3. Double the weight of infant at:
a. 1 yr.
b. 6 mos.

4. Triple the weight of infant at:
a. 1yr.
b. 1 yr. and 6 mos.

5. Quadruple weight of infant at:
a. 1 yr. and 6 mos.
b. 2 yrs. and 6 mos.

6. Peak of Strangers in infant at:
a. 8 mos.
b. 11 mos.

7. Toilet training begins at:
a. 18 mos.
b. 22 mos.

8. Learns about death at age:
a. 5 y/o
b. 3 y/o

9. Toddler:
a. offer choices
b. yes or no question

10. Infancy:
a. Solitary Play
b. Parallel Play

11. Regression is most common during:
a. Pre-school
b. Toddler

12. Room assignment for pre-schooler:
a. same age room assignment
b. same sex room assignment

13. Room assignment for schooler:
a. same age room assignment
b. same sex room assignment

14. highly imaginative:
a. toddler
b. pre-schooler

15. toddler: off limits to:
a. bathtub
b. kitchen

16. pre-school: off limits to:
a. bathtub
b. kitchen

17. Schooler: off limits to:
a. bathtub
b. vehicles

18. mutilation is common fear:
a. pre-school
b. toddler

19. loss of control is common fear:
a. toddler
b. schooler

20. Schooler:
a. cooperative play
b. competitive play