Pediatrics is one of nursing’s longest-established specialties. But what do pediatric nurses do, how much do they make, and what job outlook can they expect? Here’s everything you need to know about pediatric nurse jobs.
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What is Pediatric Nursing? Definition & Job Duties
Pediatric nurses are RNs who specialize in care for infants, children, and adolescents, in all stages of growth — generally, everyone younger than 18.
What do pediatric nurses do?
A pediatric nurse’s job duties include everything from basic care to advanced treatments, although the most specialized care is carried out by nurses who work in pediatric oncology, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric orthopedics, and child psychology.
On a day-to-day basis, pediatric nurses conduct physical exams, treat and manage injuries and illnesses, administer medications, and handle preventive health like screenings and immunizations.
Other primary responsibilities include providing emotional support to patients — a task that's quite different for children than adults — as well as education to families and caregivers.
Pediatric nurses must also carry out interdisciplinary communication, working with a larger clinical team to coordinate care. They also perform diagnostic testing, vital signs monitoring, and sample collection, and sometimes treat chronic conditions, terminal diseases, and disabilities.
Where do pediatrics nurses work?
Pediatric nursing jobs are usually found in children’s hospitals, and within the pediatrics and emergency wards of community and learning hospitals.
Pediatric RNs also work pretty much everywhere else care is delivered, including primary care and specialty clinics, physician practices, and outpatient facilities like acute-care centers and ambulatory facilities.
Given the need for around-the-clock care, pediatric nurses are generally called upon to work nights and weekends.
How to Become a Pediatric Nurse
As pediatric nursing jobs are open to RNs only, the first step is earning a degree from an accredited program. And, while an associate’s degree is acceptable, a bachelor’s degree will usually lead to more career opportunities, and higher pay.
After that, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN and then log a certain number of pediatric clinical hours. These are usually available in nursing school, or from on-the-job training in a general hospital or community clinic.
What certifications do you need for pediatric nurse jobs?
Although not all pediatric nursing jobs require them, having certifications will likely help you land a better job, and may help you earn more. (It's been reported that managers prefer certified over non-certified pediatric RNs 90% of the time.)
Recommended certifications for pediatric nursing jobs include:
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the American Red Cross
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) from the PNCB
- Certification in Acute/Critical Care Nursing - Pediatrics (CCRN‑P) from AACN
What associations should pediatric nurses join?
Even if you’re not ready for certification, joining (or just keeping up with) pediatric nursing associations can help you stay informed on best practices and provide the chance to earn CE credits, too. The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) is a good place to start, but you can check out these other options, too.
What other skills should pediatric nurses have?
In addition to clinical skills, pediatric nurse jobs require soft skills like:
- Empathy, compassion, and the ability to relate emotionally to children
- Resilience, so you can function calmly under emotionally difficult situations
- Patience to deal with children and families under emotional strain
- Communication skills to work effectively with families and children of all ages
- Teamwork skills to work effectively with doctors and other clinicians
Pediatric Nursing Jobs: Future Career Outlook
While official sources project 6% growth in jobs for RNs in general, the future for pediatric nurses may be even better than that, fueled by a general increase in chronic conditions in children and the availability of pediatric services in general.
Salary & earnings: How much do pediatric nurses make?
On average, RNs earn $97,660 per year. And, although they make a bit less than specialties like emergency care and ICU nurses, pediatric nurses with significant experience and certifications sometimes earn more than $100,000 per year.
Exactly how much a pediatric nurse makes depends on location, education, certifications, and the shifts you work, with some facilities offering more for nights and weekends. In addition, big cities tend to pay more than rural areas — but cost of living is also higher in those places, too.
How to earn more with travel & per diem nursing jobs
In general, you can earn even more by working per diem, local contract, or travel pediatric nurse jobs.
- Per diem nursing jobs pay a high hourly rate and provide more flexibility, but usually require you to plan and manage your own career and benefits.
- Travel nursing jobs provide a housing stipend to use for accommodation while you're traveling, which you can keep if you find an affordable place to live.
You can learn more about per diem jobs here, and travel nursing jobs here.
Find the Best Pediatric Nurse Jobs with HealthTrust
As America’s leading source of nursing careers, we've got pediatric nursing jobs you won't find anywhere else — especially for per diem, travel, and local contract roles. Search pediatric nurse jobs now to see what’s available.
