What is a Pediatric Nurse?
A pediatric nurse, also known as a peds nurse or peds RN, is a licensed registered nurse (RNs) who cares for patients between infancy and adulthood. It’s a rewarding career path that has a unique role within the medical community.
If you imagine yourself comforting an anxious toddler before a procedure, supporting a family through a difficult diagnosis, or celebrating a milestone with a teen patient recovering from an injury or illness, pediatric nursing might be for you!
In this guide, you’ll learn what it takes to become a pediatric nurse, what a typical day looks like, how much you can expect to make, and more.
What Does a Pediatric Nurse Do?
Pediatric nurses care for patients from birth through young adulthood—typically up to age 18. This requires Peds RNs to have a deep understanding of every stage of human growth and development.
Although they only treat children, pediatric nurses perform many of the same duties as an RN that cares for adults, including administering medications, starting IVs, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with procedures. However, every task must be done with extra care and consideration for children's developing bodies and immune systems.
In addition to taking extra precautions, pediatric RNs approach their relationship with patients differently than nurses caring for adults. A pediatrics nurse must be warm, compassionate, and good with children. Peds nurses may also act as a substitute for a parent or loved one, making silly jokes and playing games with patients to ease their fears.
Typical Duties & Responsibilities of a Pediatric Nurse
A pediatric nurse’s routine is similar to nurses in other specialties. However, they cater to children. The following list outlines the most common daily responsibilities of a pediatric nurse:
- Assessing patients’ conditions
- Recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms
- Observing patients and record the observations
- Recording vital signs and monitoring lab results
- Administering patients’ medicines and treatments
- Helping perform diagnostic tests and analyzing the results
- Educating patients and their families on how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Alerting the medical team to any changes and communicating with them regularly to ensure proper treatment
What Makes Pediatric Nursing Unique?
Pediatric nurses are unique because they play a vital role in shaping long-term health outcomes for children. In fact, research shows that effective pediatric nursing can reduce morbidity and mortality, improve patient and family satisfaction, and enhance overall quality of life for younger patients.
Here are some key differences that set pediatric nursing apart from other nurses:
- Pediatric nurses must be excellent interpersonal communicators. They interact directly with their patients more than any other kind of nurse.
- Pediatric nurses must also be observant of children’s emotional states and non-verbal cues to provide the right support, as younger patients often communicate much differently than adults.
- Pediatric patients’ families are very involved with their care and recovery, so peds nurses must be able to communicate effectively with everyone responsible for their patients’ well-being.
- Pediatric nurses need a strong understanding of human growth and development to assess their patients symptoms accurately and create treatment plans.
- Pediatric nurses often serve as the voice for kids who struggle to put their feelings and needs into words. They help make sure younger patients feel comfortable, safe, and supported.
This specialty of nursing can be psychologically taxing; however, it’s extremely rewarding. Peds nurses display a tremendous amount of skill, care, and compassion every day. They play a critical role in their patients’ successes—clinically, developmentally, and emotionally.
What is a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse?
PICU nurses are a type of pediatric nurse that has similar duties to the ICU. They treat adolescent patients with serious or life-threatening conditions.
However, PICU nurses typically care for fewer patients per shift than standard peds nurses. They must constantly be alert and work quickly to stabilize a patient’s condition during emergency health issues.
Other subspecialties include Peds Operating Room (OR) nursing and Peds Emergency Room (ER) nursing.
How to Become a Pediatric Nurse
To become a pediatric nurse, the most important step is to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After you graduate with your degree, you’ll then need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse (licensed RN).
Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive your license and can begin working in various pediatric settings! According to the Institute of Pediatric Nursing, pediatric nurses most commonly work in:
- Free-standing children’s hospitals (30.3 percent)
- Children’s hospitals associated with a major medical center (28.3 percent)
- Outpatient specialty care (11.7 percent)
What Certifications Do Pediatric Nurses Need?
Pediatric nurses are typically required or recommended to have the following certifications, depending on their specialty:
- BLS (Basic Life Support): Required for all nurses, including pediatric RNs
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support): Typically required for all nurses working in pediatric units, ER, ICU, etc.
- NALS/NRP (Neonatal Advanced Life Support / Neonatal Resuscitation Program): Required for nurses working in NICU, L&D, etc.
- CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse): Typically optional but highly recommended for pediatric nurses who want to refine their skills and stand out
- PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization): Sometimes required for nurses working in the ER or acute pediatric care settings
- Other specialty certifications: Such as the CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) or other pediatric ER or oncology/pediatric ICU certifications
How Long Does It Take to Become a Pediatric Nurse?
An associate degree typically takes about two years to complete, while a bachelor’s degree usually takes four years. Some nursing schools offer flexible options such as part-time, evening, or weekend classes.
Then, it typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months to pass the NCLEX-RN exam after finishing your nursing degree (assuming you start studying right away). Then, another few months to receive your certifications.
Keep in mind that many pediatric clinics and hospitals prefer to hire nurses with some experience in the specialty, so new nurses often start in general nursing roles to build their skills before moving into pediatrics. However, if you’re determined to begin working with kids right away, look for new grad pediatric programs or pediatric clinical rotations during school to give yourself a head start.
Make an Impact as a Pediatric Travel Nurse
At most agencies, you’ll need at least two years of relevant experience to become a traveling pediatric nurse. At Gifted Healthcare, however, nurses can apply with just one year of recent pediatric experience, making the transition more accessible without compromising quality.
Gifted currently has open travel pediatric nursing positions in Arizona, offering opportunities to grow your career while exploring a new location. Whether you’re ready to take your first travel assignment or seeking your next pediatric role, Gifted recruiters are here to support you every step of the way.
If you’re ready to make the move, explore pediatric nursing travel assignments available through Gifted Healthcare today, or apply to speak with a recruiter!
How Much Does a Pediatric Nurse Make?
Based on averages from current and past pediatric nursing jobs listed on Gifted Healthcare, pay typically ranges from $1,800 to $2,500 per week. However, rates vary by agency, position type—travel, permanent, per diem, or local—and location, with urban hospitals generally offering higher pay than rural facilities. Travel assignments also typically pay more than other nursing jobs.
Explore Pediatric Nursing Jobs Through Gifted Healthcare!
Gifted Healthcare provides healthcare professionals with exceptional, high-paying career opportunities, including pediatric nursing.
We’ve earned recognition as a Best Travel Nurse Agency by The Gypsy Nurse, the world’s largest online community for travel nurses, and as a Top 20 Travel Nursing Company by BluePipes, the leading professional networking platform in healthcare.
Connect with a recruiter to join the Gifted Family today! Apply here.
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