A pediatric nurse must offer the proper maintenance care to a child. Depending on the specific pediatrics office or environment that they work, most accurately define the roles that they are to assume. In pediatrics nursing, the nurse is responsible for the developmental screenings. Part of this aspect includes measuring the height, weight, and other preliminary measures that mark a child’s growth and development. Nurses in pediatrics are often responsible for collecting laboratory samples. A pediatric nurse will also perform further routine tests and screenings such as checking a child’s temperature, heart rate, blood pressure levels, and respiratory rates. He or she may be responsible for conducting the more basic eye exams, as well. A pediatric nurse is also in direct contact with the parents, so they are to offer the parents the support that they need. In pediatrics nursing, a pediatric nurse may be instructed to interpret laboratory results. Those nurses that work in acute care pediatrics may also conduct in depth physical assessments of any given child.
There are several ways become a pediatric nurse. You can become a LPN, an RN, or obtain your Bachelor's in Nursing. A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) takes approximately one year. Your scope of practice varies with the state that you live in. In my state, Indiana LPNs cannot start IVs, but can give medications, with the exception of a few specific medications. While the track to becoming an LPN is the shortest, your opportunities are also limited. For example a lot of hospitals are not hiring LPNs so they are limited to nursing homes. A Registered Nurse (RN) is the next type of nurse that you can become. Typically, this takes approximately two years to achieve. Nurses who go through a RN program receive either a nursing certificate or an associate's degree in nursing (ADN or ASN). Registered nurses can work in many areas and have a wide range of privileges. RNs are the most flexible when