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This guide to children’s nurses (paediatric nurses) looks at the main duties associated with this role and the qualifications and skills required by those who choose this career path.
Children’s nurses care for newborn babies, young adults, and all ages in between. Covering a wide range of specific health needs, this role involves supporting children and their parents or guardians and ensuring that the service user receives the care that they need. Each day will be different and could include helping with pain management, assisting with procedures, administering medication, and carrying out evaluations – all of which they will need to document.
Communication is a key part of being a children’s nurse, as many children are unable to explain how they’re feeling with the clarity that adults can. Being able to interpret behaviour and actions is vital, as is the ability to spot signs of deterioration which can happen very quickly in children. This career is very physically and emotionally demanding, and those who choose it must be able to manage their stress and work with sensitivity and empathy.
As a children’s nurse, you’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team who take care of service users with ages ranging from newborn to 18. This team can include doctors, healthcare assistants, social workers, psychologists, hearing specialists, and many more professions depending on the type of care that the child requires. Sometimes a children’s nurse will continue to care for an individual beyond the age of 18 should they need help adjusting to adult care.
In addition to working with a number of different healthcare professionals, children’s nurses will have a choice of settings to work in too. The most common settings include hospitals, clinics and working in the community – such as in a child’s home. Days tend to be very fast-paced, and the ability to organise time, be flexible, and work as a team is very important.
