Pediatric Nurse Job Description Template

Nurses across virtually every specialization are in high demand, and if you manage a pediatric hospital or practice, you’re likely experiencing the effects of the nursing shortage. But having the right pediatric nurse job description could increase your number of applications — and ensure that you attract the best nurses to your clinic.

Review these pediatric nurse job duties below as a starting point to create your job posting.

Understanding the Role of a Pediatric Nurse

A pediatric nurse is a licensed professional who provides care for infants, children, adolescents, and late teens in medical settings. These professionals play an important role in assessing a patient’s condition, administering drug therapies and other treatments, monitoring vital signs, and performing diagnostic tests.

In a hospital setting, a child spends the majority of their time with a pediatric nurse, only seeing doctors and other specialists on occasion. Pediatric nurses act as the first line of defense, providing primary, direct care to manage a child’s illness and promote their overall health and well-being.

Key Responsibilities and Daily Tasks

Pediatric nurse responsibilities vary from position to position. Their main responsibilities include carrying out a doctor’s orders and providing care to manage children’s symptoms.

You may want to include any of these responsibilities in your job description:

• Maintain accurate records of a child’s symptoms, treatments, and care
• Administer prescribed medication
• Assist with pain management and managing a patient’s symptoms
• Consult with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers to form treatment plans specific to the child’s needs
• Perform thorough head-to-toe assessments of children, including blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and symptoms
• Draw blood and administer childhood vaccinations
• Provide supportive care for both the patient and their family members
• Understand differences in childhood care from birth to adolescence, adhering to age-appropriate guidelines
• Intervene in emergency situations alongside other critical care professionals
• Communicate with parents and families to ensure that possess the skills and knowledge to care for their children when they return home
• Stay up to date on the latest developments in pediatric medical care

Qualifications and Skills Required

A pediatric nurse must have a nursing degree from an accredited institution. Some nursing positions require a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, while others accept an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. During both programs, students complete clinical work to gain hands-on experience in a wide range of settings, including pediatrics.

After completing their undergraduate education, a student must take the National Council Licensure Examination in Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse. Many pediatric hospitals accept new nurses, while some pediatric private practices may look for nurses with at least a few years of experience.

Most pediatric nursing jobs don’t require additional certifications, but nurses can obtain certifications through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board if desired to improve their skills. After completing this program, they achieve the status of Certified Pediatric Nurse.

Aside from education and licensing, pediatric RNs need soft skills like:

• Communication
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Compassion
• Teamwork
• Flexibility and adaptability

Specializations Within Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric nurses have the opportunity to work in different settings and with different types of pediatric patients. Common specializations in pediatric nursing include:

• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
• Pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)
• Pediatric tracheotomy care
• Pediatric oncology
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Labor and delivery

The Workplace Environment

Many pediatric nurses work in fast-paced environments. In a hospital setting, a nurse may have between two and ten patients per shift depending on the patient’s required level of care. Each pediatric nurse cares for their own set of patients, but they may consult with other medical professionals as needed to provide the highest level of care.

Pediatric RNs can also work in slower-paced clinics and private practices. In these settings, pediatric nurse responsibilities may include providing initial care when children arrive for their appointments, recording medical history, and assessing vital signs.

Challenges and Rewards of Being a Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric RNs must have the emotional and mental strength to provide compassionate, dedicated care to children who are often dealing with devastating medical issues. Watching children go through hardships takes a toll on these professionals, and many nurses struggle with the day-to-day emotional stress of caring for sick children.

On the flip side, seeing children recover from serious medical conditions, instilling trust and confidence in their parents, and even simply putting a smile on a child’s face are all incredibly rewarding aspects of being a pediatric nurse.

Career Outlook and Advancement

The career outlook for pediatric nurses is positive; the BLS predicts that employment for registered nurses will grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032.

Seeking certifications and gaining experience in specialty areas, like pediatrics, can help a nurse advance in their career, eventually attaining RN-II, RN-III, or Certified Pediatric Nurse status.

Attract Pediatric Nurses With Our Pediatric Healthcare Job Description

This pediatric nurse job description will help you attract qualified candidates to your nursing position. Pediatric nurses must have the right education and experience — but they also need soft skills like communication, empathy, and critical thinking that the NCLEX-RN can’t adequately test for.

These nurses are the backbones of pediatric care, and your practice likely wouldn’t survive without them. After hiring a pediatric nurse for your practice, you need the systems in place to ensure the best employee experience.

Improve employee communication and satisfaction with the help of Weave, the all-in-one automation platform for medical care facilities. Get a demo today to learn how Weave’s services can help your practice.