Addressing the healthcare needs of children has always been essential, but it’s becoming more critical as concerning issues in childhood health arise. 例如, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- More than 40% of school-aged children and adolescents in the U.S. have at least one chronic health condition.
- One in five children and adolescents in the U.S. 患有肥胖症.
- 每年, cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) result in up to 80,000 hospitalizations and up to 300 deaths of U.S. children who are younger than five years old.
A variety of professionals provide healthcare services to children, and among the most important are 儿科护士. Focusing on improving the health of some of the most vulnerable patients, 儿科护士 are vital in strengthening childhood health.
Knowing how to become a 儿科护士 is the first step to acquiring a position in the field. 参加 护理学院 is the first step and can benefit those who want to succeed in this rewarding profession.
儿科护士是做什么的? The Pediatric Nurse Job Description
Pediatric nurses offer comprehensive healthcare services to children ranging from newborns to teenagers. The types of healthcare 儿科护士 provide address children’s physical, 认知, 以及社会心理需求. An important aspect of the 儿科护士 job description is providing care that is appropriate to a child’s developmental stage; therefore, knowledge of how children grow and change over time is particularly key in pediatric nursing.
While 儿科护士 focus on all facets of caring for children, they also strive to provide family-centered care that includes consideration of children’s families. 除了, working and coordinating with other healthcare professionals on a child’s healthcare team is an important part of the job. The care that 儿科护士 deliver is based on a plan to which the child’s family and healthcare team have all agreed. That plan specifies the interventions the healthcare team will employ to improve the child’s health.
Pediatric nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings, 比如医院, 门诊, 儿科医生的办公室, 学校, 以及社会服务机构.
Examples of a 儿科护士’s job duties include:
- Conducting child wellness visits, checkups, and physical exams
- 儿童接种疫苗
- Performing developmental screenings
- Providing care for common childhood health issues
- Offering care to children with critical injuries
- Treating children with chronic illnesses
It’s important for those who are interested in becoming a 儿科护士 to know they also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular patient population. 例如, 儿科护士 can concentrate on caring for children with developmental disabilities, children with terminal illnesses, or newborns and infants who are born prematurely.
Steps to Become a Pediatric Nurse
Entering the pediatric nursing profession requires becoming a registered nurse (RN), gaining work experience as an RN, and then pursuing certifications to specialize in pediatric nursing. Individual steps in that process are outlined below.
1. 获得学位或文凭
To become an RN, an individual must first earn one of the following:
- A nursing diploma from a hospital-based nursing program, which can take fewer than two years
- An associate degree in nursing (ADN), which can take two to three years
- A bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), which can take about four years
2. 培养关键技能
While earning a nursing degree or diploma, students acquire 关键护理技能 在以下领域:
- 护理管理—for example, updating care plans and assessing a patient’s need for referrals
- 安全和感染控制—including preventing patient injuries and using hazardous materials in a safe manner
- Promoting and maintaining health—for example, educating patients on their health and conducting health screenings
- 基本的护理—such as performing irrigation procedures, 评估患者皮肤, assessing patients’ pain levels, 和更多的
- 药理学—for example, administering appropriate doses of medication and monitoring intravenous infusion
- 减少风险—for example, responding to changes in patients’ vital signs and maintaining catheters
The above are examples of the key skills students will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and become an RN. 通过考试后, individuals then need to obtain RN licensure from the board of nursing in the state in which they seek to practice.
3. 获得工作经验
当注册护士的时候, individuals gain experience that will make them eligible to earn the necessary certifications to become a 儿科护士. In acquiring this work experience, nurses also have the opportunity to explore areas of pediatric nursing in which they may wish to specialize.
The amounts and types of work experience to be eligible to take 儿科护士 certification exams vary by the certification. Requirements can range from two to five years of work experience as an RN, 从1开始,800 to 3,000 hours of clinical work experience specifically in pediatrics.
4. 获得认证
Nurses can earn a variety of pediatric nursing certifications. 例如:
- The Pediatric 护理 Certification Board offers the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) certification.
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the Pediatric Nurse – Board Certified (PED-BC) certification.
Pediatric nurses who wish to progress in their profession also can work to become 儿科护士 practitioners. 达到这个水平, nurses need to earn a graduate degree in nursing and then pursue certification as a 儿科护士 practitioner.
Job Outlook for Pediatric Nurses
与美国.S. experiencing a nationwide shortage of nurses, the job outlook for 儿科护士 is bright. 根据美国.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. will have approximately 193,100 openings for RNs each year between 2022 and 2032.
Increases in children acquiring illnesses such as RSV—as well as new outbreaks of diseases such as mumps and measles—also could fuel increased demand for nurses who specialize in pediatrics.
Finding a Fulfilling Career in Pediatric 护理
Pursuing a pediatric nursing career can lead to rewarding experiences that offer the opportunity to improve childhood health. Helping a pediatric patient through a health challenge represents a chance to make a lasting difference for a child and the child’s entire family.
If you are interested in pursuing a nursing career, explore the Fortis 护理学校课程 to learn how they can help you achieve your goals. Combining classroom instruction with clinical, 实践经验, these programs could be the basis for a meaningful career in nursing.
Start your journey toward a rewarding healthcare career today.
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