LPNs and Pediatric Nursing
If you have decided to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and you love working with children, why not consider specializing in pediatric nursing? This is a growing field that offers an abundance of employment opportunities all across the country today. Read on to learn more about this lucrative sector of the LPN profession.
Typical Work Environments
One of the great features of choosing a pediatric nursing career is that there are many different places where you can work. Pediatric LPNs work under the supervision of RNS and physicians in a variety of medical settings providing essential care to children of all ages. A sample of the places where pediatric nurses can be found working are as follows:
- Children's Hospitals
- Pediatric Wards of General Hospitals
- Neonatal Units of General Hospitals
- Private Pediatric Clinics
- Family Medical Clinics
- Children's Sections of Community Health Centers
- Primary and Secondary Schools
- Community Colleges and Trade Schools
- Children's Medical Research Centers
Common Daily Tasks
Pediatric LPNs perform many of the same tasks as other types of licensed practical nurses. However, since many children become quite anxious in medical settings, it is essential for pediatric nurses to have the ability to provide emotional support to their patients. Although the tasks that these nurses perform vary depending on where they work, some common daily tasks include:
- Administering Immunizations
- Taking and Recording Vital Signs
- Drawing Blood for Lab Analysis
- Calming Anxious Children and Their Parents
- Educating Parents on Basic Children's Health
- Administering Medication
- Assisting Doctors During Checkups and Exams
- Applying and Changing Bandages
- Cleaning Wounds
Special Coursework and Certifications
While you do not need any special credentials to become a pediatric LPN, earning pediatric certification or simply completing pediatric-related coursework during your LPN training can broaden your job opportunities. Listed below, you will find some courses and certifications you may wish to consider if you want to become a pediatric nurse:
- Developmental Psychology
- Community Health Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing Certification
- Child-Parent Nursing
- Children's Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Childhood Nutrition
- Obstetrics
- Childhood Illnesses and Diseases
Average Yearly Salary Range
If you are like most other aspiring pediatric LPNs today, you might be wondering just how much money professionals in this sector can earn each year. Since salaries can be affected by a variety of factors, this is not an easy question to answer. However, according to Payscale, pediatric nurses are earning anywhere from $32,266 to $80,401 per year in 2015.
