Pediatric patients have unique needs. As a pediatric nurse, you must understand the clinical differences between children and adults. Here's everything you need to know about becoming a Pediatric Nurse.

1. Pediatric Nursing
What You Need to Know Before
Becoming a Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric patients have unique needs. As a
pediatric nurse, you must understand the
clinical differences between children and adults.

2. What does a
Pediatric Nurse do?

3. Pediatric nurses are registered nurses who
specialize in caring for patients from birth
through adolescence. They must have a deep
knowledge of child growth and development
as diseases and conditions in children often
present and are treated differently than in
adults.Because their patients are so much
younger, pediatric nurses often form strong
relational-ties with them in different ways than
they would with adult patients—by playing
games with them, being goofy, or holding their
hand during tough procedures.

4. Pediatric nurses have a greater influence
on their patient’s future — from growth
and development to health promotion
and practices.

5. Pediatric RN duties
Assess patients’ conditions
Record patients medical histories and
symptoms
Observe patients and record the
observations
Administer patients’ medicines and
treatments
Help perform diagnostic tests and
analyze the results
Teach patients and their families how
to manage illnesses or injuries

6. What you should know
before becoming a
Pediatric Nurse

7. As a pediatric nurse, you will need to
build relationships with your pediatric
patients and their parents. Try greeting
the patient first. This communicates
that you feel they are important. You
need your pediatric patient’s trust for
compliance. Once you have greeted the
child, you can speak with the parent.
Being interactive is also a good idea.
Before jumping into a lung assessment,
let the child look at your stethoscope.
Building relationships

8. The sterile examination room may be scary
for pediatric patients. Make sure there are
books, toys, and even crayons to use on that
crinkly, noisy, exam table paper.
Creating a comfortable environment will
help put pediatric patients at ease and calm
their nerves.
Creating a comfy
environment

9. Standing over your pediatric patients
may make them feel uncomfortable.
Kneel down to speak to them if they
are on the floor. Or have mom or dad
hold them on their lap or on the exam
table so that you are at a similar level
when sitting or standing.
Getting on
their level

10. Doing your
homework
The most skilled pediatric nurse
understands the importance of connecting
with the patient. Ask them what they like to
do.Be in touch with what different age
groups enjoy right now. This may mean
watching an episode of Bubble Guppies or
downloading Snapchat. Be up to date on
popular kid shows, tech, and more to keep
the conversation going.

11. If a young child is slow to warm up, play!
That’s right: build a Lego car, or color a
picture. All children understand the
language of play. Play also distracts
them from scary parts of the visit.

12. Pediatric patients are helpers by nature. Let
them help you get things ready for the
assessment, hold the Band-Aid or listen to
your heart first.
Letting them Help

13. If you have to handle tough situations with
families, seeing the pain in family members’
faces in tough medical situations can be
emotionally taxing especially as you listen
and stay present with them as they grieve.
On your own, finding time to refuel,
spending time with loved ones and
investing in your hobbies can help to
prevent burnout.
Taking care of
yourself

14. As with all types of nursing, it is
important to take care of yourself and
have a professional relationship with
your patients and their families so you
can return the next day and dedicate
yourself 100 percent.

15. Join AccessPortal,
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used online nursing
library for your
nursing studies

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