Pediatric Nursing

Carly Conrad

Mr. Alburger

English 3

November 11, 2020

Carly Conrad

Mr. Alburger

English 3

November 11, 2020

Pediatric Nursing

There is a calling that has reached over 100,000 people in the U.S. That calling is for

Pediatric nursing. Pediatric Nurses are responsible for providing exceptional care and

monitoring the development of the many children that come through their doors.

Pediatric nursing is defined as the practice of nursing involved in the health care of

children from infancy through adolescence. “This type of nurse is very important because

children need accessible, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, family-centered, and

compassionate care that focuses on their changing physical and emotional needs.” (Kyle) These

pediatric nurses are in charge of providing that. Their primary focus is on the child and to

provide this direct care while also being an advocate and educator for the child and their

families.

These nurses have many responsibilities in their field. While their one responsibility is to

provide exceptional care for the child they also have to be aware of a wide variety of topics. “A

pediatric nurse must look at the different milestones of the infant to see how they are growing.”

(Bowden) Children while they are growing go through these milestones/checkpoints. A pediatric

nurse must look for these, for example,”....by the age of 10, a school-aged child should weigh

around 70 pounds and 54 inches tall.” (Silbert) If the child is exceptionally under that the nurse

must notice that. Another responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of a pediatric nurse is

making the child and family comfortable. A pediatric nurse is the first face a patient and their

family see. This means that the nurse must make sure they are comfortable and answer any
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questions that the family or patient might have. Another big responsibility of a pediatric nurse is

to be observant. The nurse must observe any warning signs that may be present on the child’s

body or through their behavior. They have to look for signs of abuse, disease, mental health

issues, and psychological development. On top of all of that, “When caring for a child, the way a

family interacts becomes a big part of the overall care for the child.” (Potts) While looking at the

family interactions signs of abuse may come out.

Going into more detail about the importance of a pediatric nurse, a big topic to look at is

the differences between a child and an adult. The population of children requires different

assessments and evaluations that are only unique to infants, children, and adolescents. Some

people consider children to be just small adults but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. “The

physiology is massively different between adults and children. For starters, a child’s heart is

different from an adult’s so when a child is having problems with their heart doctors or surgeons

must refer to a different checklist.” (Ricci) Also, children have more flexible bones than adults as

a result they are harder to break. That is why a fractured bone has more impact on a child than an

adult. Also since pediatric nurses are with children from infants to adolescence they are

responsible for checking the child’s growth patterns and look for things only unique to a child

and not an adult. One of the biggest differences is resilience, a child has more resilience than an

adult because children have more hope and they believe. They have such a big imagination

which helps them survive worse and recover faster. This is just a sample of the big overview of

this career, pediatric nursing hasn’t always been this advanced. These advances would not be

possible without the recognition of a need for pediatrics specific nursing.

The history of pediatric nursing dates all the way back to 1855. Before the career of

pediatric nursing became a specialty, newborns would be delivered by a midwife and then all the

care would be done inside the home. “The first pediatric hospital was the Children’s Hospital of
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Pennsylvania, founded in 1855.” (Rudd) During this time of pediatric nursing, things were

massively different from the present. In the past nurses were in charge of preventing the spread

of infectious disease. Also if a child was in the hospital parents were not allowed to visit their

children. All the care and responsibility was placed upon the nurses/staff. Still looking at the

past, during the 19th and 20th centuries nursing care was limited. Nurses were mostly working

through private health initiatives. Out of all of these differences, the biggest is how in the early

days of pediatric nursing, the emotional and psychological needs of children were not considered

as they are now.

As of today, there have been many advances in the field of pediatric nursing throughout

the years. Starting off In 1917, the “Standard Curriculum for Schools of Nursing (Standard

Curriculum) started to require that classes on pediatric nursing must involve lectures on social

issues, infectious diseases, orthopedic and surgical conditions, and psychology/mental health.”

(Rudd) Previously these things were not considered in the care of children. In the latter half of

the 20th century, the profession of pediatric nursing continues to define itself and improve.

“Pediatric has started to define itself by showing developments and publication of professional

standards of practice, availability of certification programs, the formation of professional

organizations, etc.” (Rudd) Also as of today there are pediatric nurses working in many different

places when in the past they would only work in private medical offices and pediatric nurses are

more involved in care. The early field of pediatric nursing has had a lot of influence and impact

on the development of advanced practice roles.

At first glance, the education that is required to become a practicing pediatric nurse looks

intense, but the harsh reality is that these nurses have to be prepared for life and death situations.

To start the journey of becoming a pediatric nurse a degree must be achieved. Usually either an

associate’s degree in nursing, a bachelor of science in nursing, or a nursing diploma. A degree is

the core part of this journey to becoming a pediatric nurse as it is the stepping stone. There are

many schools that have their own branch of nursing that will offer great programs for aspiring

nurses.

The top school in the United States for pediatric nursing is the Duke University School of

Nursing. This college is residing in Durham, North Carolina. What makes this school the number

one is how it advances nursing science in the issues that face the world. The school also fosters

the scholarly practice of nursing. The Duke University School of Nursing was also named the

leading graduate nursing program in the nation. The second best school in the U.S for nursing is

John Hopkins University. This school resides in Baltimore, Maryland. John Hopkin University’s

nursing program has received three NLN Center of Excellence awards. Their nursing program

has always been in the top 5 nursing schools since they opened their doors. What makes this

school the number two is that their staff always makes sure that their students are at their best

and provide them with the materials to go out in the world and be the best nurses they can be.

Going out into the work field is the finale of the journey to becoming a pediatric nurse,

but many things have to be put into play. “Nursing can be considered more than an occupation,

rather a calling.” (CTU) Many pediatric nurses have said that their journey has started with this

calling. Some qualities and skills that will have to be brought out once a pediatric nurse goes into

the work field are critical thinking skills, good communication, compassion, empathy, being

detail-oriented, emotional stability, strong organizational skills, and high physical stamina. These

skills are highly important to the workplace. This is only one of the many parts of the workplace.

Another part of the workplace is the many different settings one could work in. Pediatric

Nurses have the opportunity to work in many different locations, so they can find the one that fits

their skill set the best. Pediatric Nurses can choose to work in either a hospital, doctor’s office,

clinics, surgical centers, and specific pediatric centers. It is important that these nurses are
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available in all these medical places. This is due to the countless amounts of children that are

always walking through the doors of medical plazas.

A factor of this job that can be important is the salary that pediatric nurses will make. The

average salary for pediatric nurses ranges from $59,000 to $110,000 and above. This can depend

on the workplace and specialty. Another thing that can affect one’s salary is pay raises. The more

experience and years a peds nurse works can gain one a pay raise. For example, for the first 5

years, the salary will be on the lower side of the range. Once one hits 10 years of working in the

field the salary will increase. Due to the high demand for nurses in the United States, salaries

will continue to be competitive.

The job market is an important aspect when talking about a career. “In recent years, the

demand for pediatric nurses has continued to outweigh the supply creating a mass shortage of

nurses.” (Rudd) As the population continues to grow in the United States the demand for those in

the nursing field will only increase as well. This demand must be met by addressing issues that

can potentially add to the shortages themselves. For example, the lack of educators and the high

turnover rate of nurses are just a few of the contributing issues of the pediatric nurse shortage.

Unlike other jobs where many years from now those jobs might not be needed. There will always

be a need for pediatric nurses to help children who are in need of medical care and do anything

that’s in the best interest of the child

In conclusion to the overview of the field of pediatric nursing, pediatric nurses are

responsible for caring for children of all ages. They must be knowledgeable about the growth and

development as they are to a child’s unique and individual developmental level. Some of the best

pediatric nurses are ones who can handle all of the responsibility that comes with the job while

keeping a calm persona even through the most stressful situations.

The career of Pediatric Nursing impacts the community by being an essential part of the

healthcare system, by providing a health care experience that is unlike any other, and by going

out into the community to make sure everyone gets a health care experience.

With all aspects of this profession, the impact is one of the most diverse and important

topics to talk about. Nurses are the foundation of the healthcare system. “...Not only do they

deliver outstanding care and support to patients and their families, but they also advocate on your

behalf every single day.” (AdventHealth) For example, the pediatric nurse will always make sure

the child is okay and their voice is heard. They don’t want the parent to do all the talking because

the parent might not be saying exactly what is going on. Pediatric nurses always make sure that

they are on the same page as the child. Pediatric nurses are known as the backbone of the child

health care system, they provide comfort, support and security to a child as well as their families.

Pediatric nurses are the first to face a patient, so within the first few minutes, it can make

an appointment turn into a great experience or make the child hate the doctor and never want to

come back. “Studies have found that the nurse’s communication with their patient’s care in every

setting promotes lower readmission rate, lower lengths of stay, higher safety scores and lowered

instances of hospital-acquired conditions.” (Sumner College) This initially helps the community

by opening up hospital beds and promoting healthiness throughout the community. Also to add

to that quote Pediatric nurses can calm a patient so their appointment will go smoother and will

make the child not as scared to come back to the doctor in turn the child when they feel sick will

want to go to the doctor and not keep living their life and risk making others sick.

One thing that sets Pediatric and all nurses apart from other professions and their impact

is that there will always be a need for nurses. All jobs are important, but to keep the community

healthy and safe you are always going to need nurses. As long as there are people you will need a

nurse. Everyone is going to get sick or get injured and the first person to examine it will always
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be a nurse. Also, there will never be anything that can match the personal care for children that

pediatric nurses give. Pediatric nurses will always be there to promote health, care for

individuals, and stop the spread of illnesses throughout the children of the world.

Throughout the community, nurses have a very big impact. “Nurses advocate for health

promotion, educate patients and the public on the prevention of illness and injury, provide care

and assist in cure, participate in rehabilitation, and provide support.” (McGill) To promote good

health many nurses will visit elementary,middle and high school to hold seminars. This way they

will be able to personally teach them ways to stay safe, and prevent themselves from catching

illnesses in school and outside of school. With these lectures, many kids will pay attention,

especially at younger ages when they are very eager to learn. “Above all, nurses must be

understood and be acknowledged for their importance and the immense impact they have on the

lives of those who are in their care.” (Sumner College)

The relationships between a pediatric nurse and their patient is a very big part of the

impact they make. During an appointment, a pediatric nurse has to form a connection with the

patient to gain trust. This will help the relationship and make the child feel more comfortable and

be prepared for when they see the doctor. The relationship can be different wherever the nurse is.

For example, if a child is going into surgery the pediatric nurse will see them first and walk them

through the procedure as well as prep them and get vitals. The child is going to be nervous going

into surgery so the Pediatric Nurse will make sure the child feels safe and comfortable before

they go into surgery. That is just one instance, within any situation or setting a pediatric nurse is

seeing a patient they have to make them feel safe. “By acknowledging they understand their

patient is suffering through their body language, nurses are able to convey to patients that they

are safe and in the best place to receive the best care possible.” (Sumner College)
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Pediatric nurses will always make sure the patient knows that they are on their side and

will advocate for them. “Nurses are there to listen to you, support you, and help connect you to

resources you may need.” (Advent Health) These nurses always have the patient’s best interest in

mind. When a patient knows that the nurse is on their side it can help them for example admit

things like vaping, smoking, drinking, and sexual activity. This can have a big impact by

allowing the medical team to know things that can affect the care they receive and how the

appointment goes.

Another key impact Pediatric nurses have is on how doctor’s offices or hospitals run.

Nurses will play a big role in the efficiency of an office or hospital. “Nurses are critical to the

delivery of high-quality, efficient care.” (Needleman and Hassmiller) Pediatric Nurses make sure

policies are enforced so that the patient can get the best medical care possible at that location. To

add on because nurses are the first to see the child the get all the necessary information so they

have to be organized and make sure it all gets back to the doctor. This helps with the efficiency

of how the office or hospital is run. It will also affect the patient’s experience and can affect if

they come back to that location or not.

Focusing back on the relationships with patients and their interactions many patients have

come forward and said that solely based on their interactions with nurses can turn their trip

around. “.....nurses help the patients on an emotional level that a lot of doctors don’t do. We are

there for when the patient hears bad news, we help them cope and also give the patient and their

family hope.” (Feagans) To add onto this quote nurses especially with children have a keen

ability to distract them and make them feel better because the doctor’s office can be very

intimidating especially if let’s say they have to get a shot. Every child is scared to get a shot but

if the nurse can distract them with something else they can “take” some of the pain. This all ties

together with giving kids the best medical care and making sure their appointment goes well.
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It is very important as well for Pediatric nurses to help out in the community. Whether

this is visiting schools, going out into communities, and visiting families. Some pediatric nurses

will visit a school to perform exams, give immunizations to children, and overall look at their

well-being. They will also go out into the community to help improve the effectiveness of health

care for children. They will make sure every child has a chance to see a medical professional

because some children aren’t so lucky to be able to go to a doctor’s office. Aside from the actual

medical side of it, pediatric nurses will check in on neighbors, they will serve on local boards,

and will even organize events to help with health issues and also teach the community about how

to stay healthy.

Another aspect of working throughout the community is stopping the spread of disease.

This can be through speaking in the community to talk about how to protect yourself. For

example talking to children about making sure you wash your hands, don’t share drinks, if you

are sick stay home, etc. These pediatric nurses’ main aspect of their job is to keep everyone

healthy, especially children, so they want to make sure they are reaching children and informing

them about an illness and how to protect themselves. Nowadays this is very important while we

are in the age of COVID-19. With this virus being very contagious it is important that these

nurses are informing everyone how to protect themselves and how dangerous this virus can be.

Children might not understand the big deal with the virus so nurses have to make sure they are

aware. Also, Pediatric nurses have to be there to take care of the children if their condition

worsens and they need to be transported to the hospital.

In conclusion, the career of Pediatric Nursing has a very big impact on the community

whether it is through their relationship with the patient, acting as the baseline and one of the most

essential parts of the healthcare system, and or helping to provide a medical experience that is

unlike any other.

Works Cited

AdventHealth. “The Many Ways Nurses Make a Positive Impact in Health Care.” AdventHealth,

AdventHealth, 26 Feb. 2019,

www.adventhealth.com/blog/many-ways-nurses-make-a-positive-impact-health-care#:~:t

ext=Nurses%20use%20their%20voice%20and,stop%20at%20the%20hospital%20level.

Bowden, V. A., and C. S. Greenberg. Pediatric Nursing Procedures. Lippincott-Raven, 2003.

Feagans, Liz. Personal Interview. March 8, 2021

“Home.” Educational Requirements | CTU,

www.coloradotech.edu/degrees/studies/nursing/articles/how-to-become-a-pediatric-nurse.

Jack Needleman, and Susan Hassmiller. “The Role Of Nurses In Improving Hospital Quality

And Efficiency: Real-World Results: Health Affairs Journal.” Health Affairs, 1 Jan. 1970,

www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.28.4.w625.

Kyle, Terri. “Essentials of Pediatric Nursing.” Google Books, Google, 2016,

books.google.com/books?hl=en.

McGill. “Nursing in Today's Society.” Ingram School of Nursing, 24 May 2013,

www.mcgill.ca/nursing/events/today.

Potts, Nicki L., and Barbara L. Mandleco. Pediatric Nursing: Caring for Children and Their

Families. Delmar Cengage Learning, 2012.

Silbert-Flagg, JoAnne, and Elizabeth D. Sloand. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification

Review Guide: Primary Care. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2021.

Sumner College. “How Nurses Impact The Patient Experience.” Sumner College, 27 May 2020,

www.sumnercollege.edu/associate-degree-nursing/nursing-facts/how-nurses-impact-the-p

atient-experience/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20found%20that%20the,instances%20of%2

0hospital%2Dacquired%20conditions.

Ricci, Susan Scott, et al. Maternity and Pediatric Nursing. Wolters Kluwer, 2021.

Rudd, Kathryn, and Diane M. Kocisko. Pediatric Nursing: the Critical Components of Nursing

Care. F.A. Davis, 2019.