• Posted on 15th September, 2022

  7 Minutes read

What is Paediatric Nursing?

Amongst occupations, nursing is considered one of the most honorable. Being a nurse requires a certain personality, and those who choose to work with children are even more honourable. If you wish to help children when they are unwell, in pain, and vulnerable, you should become a paediatric nurse practitioner.

Paediatric nurses are licenced registered nurses with a focus on treating kids from infancy to puberty. They must know a lot about how children grow and change because illnesses and problems in children often show up in different ways than in adults and are treated differently.

Paediatric nurses frequently develop close relationships with their patients in unique ways since they are so much younger than adult patients. Playing games, cracking jokes, making comical faces, or holding their hands through challenging procedures are some examples of how to do this.

How to Become a Paediatric Nurse in Australia

A strong education is necessary to work as a paediatric nurse. A nursing education degree called an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) usually requires two or three years to complete.

You can continue your education by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which normally requires six years of part-time study or up to three years of full-time study. Transfer credits and pertinent prior learning experience are used to determine admittance to the degree programme. For senior secondary, students must receive a minimum grade of 75%.

You can obtain your licence by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) after completing a nursing programme of your choice. It is the last requirement before you may start working as a certified paediatric nurse, and it is administered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (a nonprofit organisation).

Then, as a registered nurse, you can acquire real-world experience (RN). You can decide whether to pursue a different nursing specialty or paediatrics by gaining on-the-job experience. In any case, the routine tasks of your employment as a registered nurse will force you to acquire and build valuable skills that will help you in any future career in healthcare.

Paediatric Nurse Certification Board certification is available to registered nurses. They must satisfy one of the following eligibility conditions: a minimum of 1,800 hours’ worth of paediatric clinical experience accrued within the 24 months preceding the exam

3,000 hours of paediatric nursing experience, 1,000 of which must have been accrued in the previous 24 months, and a minimum of five years of experience as a registered nurse.

What does a Paediatric Nurse do?

Paediatric nurses may be responsible for a wide range of tasks, depending on their place of employment. Some of their regular responsibilities include:

• Evaluating and recording patient symptoms
• Medicine administration
• Checking the vital signs
• Finishing diagnostic procedures
• Carrying out little procedures like blood drawing or immunisation
• Educating parents about a child’s ailment or care

What You Need To Know Before Becoming A Paediatric Nurse, check here.

FAQ’s

Q: How much do paediatric nurses make in Australia?

The average Paediatric Nurse Hourly Pay in Australia is AU $39.68/hour (Source: Payscale).

Q: What is the goal of paediatric nursing?

To offer children comprehensive, need-based care that is skillful, knowledgeable, and based on their needs, both in health and illness. Furthermore, to explain to parents and other family members the children’s basic needs and to direct them in childcare.