What to Know About Working as a Pediatric Nurse

Working as a pediatric nurse means you can change a child’s entire life by providing care for them and by educating the family. Learn about the rewards and challenges of this demanding but fulfilling career from active pediatric nurse practitioners (NPs).

Choosing pediatric nursing as a career is often a personal decision. Lisa Rinsdale, a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner, discovered pediatric nursing was her calling when she became a mother. She wanted to provide families with the same care that she and her family had received.

“I gained a great deal of knowledge at their wellness visits, and I could see myself in that role,” says Rinsdale, DNP, PPCNP-BC.

Melanie Wilhelm, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, was inspired by her own daughter’s experience with severe asthma. This experience motivated her to help families raise happy, healthy children. Wilhelm also finds a special joy in treating children specifically.

“It is truly a gift to work with children,” says Wilhelm, DNP, CPNP. “Their innocence and candor are refreshing.”

Communicating with children is similar to communicating with adults, Rinsdale notes, but a different approach is necessary. With most adults it is easy to give them information and calm their fears. With children, you have to gain their trust.

“Working with children can be fun, but it can also be a team effort since you are essentially treating a family,” Rinsdale explains. “Understanding, caring, and patience are probably the most important traits in being a pediatric healthcare provider. Children can be scared of the unknown or experiencing pain.”

Wilhelm also emphasizes the importance of building trust with the entire family. “You must be patient, gentle, and kind to work in the field of pediatrics,” Wilhelm adds. “It is important to be honest and trustworthy to build relationships with families as you provide healthcare for their children.”

It can be frustrating for a pediatric nurse to communicate with children, especially with very young children who can’t understand what is happening. Children can struggle to describe their symptoms or understand that an uncomfortable treatment is going to help them.

“One challenging aspect of working as a pediatric NP is working with families that have a lot of social needs, whether that be due to poverty, a lack of education, or not receiving mental health intervention. It can be challenging to provide care that is equal when the family has access to fewer resources,” Rinsdale notes.

Also, as legally mandated reporters, pediatric nurses must report potential child abuse, which can take a tremendous emotional toll.

A pediatric nurse also provides health education that will benefit a child throughout their life. “It is most rewarding to watch a child that you have cared for since infancy grow up and become an amazing adult,” Wilhelm says.

Rinsdale shares what it is like as a pediatric nurse to see her patients recover. “Sick children tend to bounce back very quickly with evidence-based care,” she says. “Seeing improvement and a smile from a child that could not smile a couple of days ago due to acute illness is my best reward.”

A pediatric nurse practitioner or pediatric nurse needs to build trust with parents/guardians and the child.

“Caring for children over their lifespan from birth to 21 years old allows you to develop true relationships with families,” Wilhelm says. “It is a great honor to be trusted within these relationships. The trust you build goes a long way in providing exceptional healthcare for families.”

Rinsdale stresses the importance of being a good listener and communicator. “I view myself as a team member and teacher. I am there to listen to the parents who know their child best and then intersect that information with the knowledge that I have of pediatrics.”