Pediatric nursing

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Pediatric nursing is part of the nursing profession, specifically revolving around the care of neonates and children up to adolescence. The word, pediatrics, comes from the Greek words 'paedia' (child) and 'iatrike' (physician).{{cite book |last1=Datta |first1=Parul |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pediatric_Nursing_by_Parul_Datta/eShStAEACAAJ?hl=en |title=Paediatric Nursing |date=2007 |publisher=Jaypee Brothers, Medical Publishers |isbn=9788180619700 |pages=506 |access-date=27 March 2015}} 'Paediatrics' is the British/Australian spelling, while 'pediatrics' is the American spelling.

Disciplines

= Direct nursing =

Nursing functions vary regionally, by individual education, experience, and individual career goals. These functions include the administration of procedures and medicines according to prescribed nursing care plans. Nurses observe vital signs and develop communication skills with children and family members, as well as with other medical personnel. Awareness of the concerns of children and parents, physical presence at times of stress, and helping children and family members cope are common functions of direct nursing care{{Cite book |last1=Ball |first1=Jane W. |url=https://archive.org/details/pediatricnursing00jane/page/4 |title=Pediatric Nursing: caring for children |last2=Bindler |first2=Ruth C. |publisher=Prentice Hall |year=2003 |isbn=0-13-099405-7 |edition=3rd |location=Upper Saddle River, New Jersey |pages=4 |url-access=registration}}

= Neonatal nursing =

Neonatal nurses specialize in working with the youngest patients(infants). Neonatal nursing focuses on providing care and support for newborn babies delivered prematurely or who are suffering from health problems such as birth defects, infections, or heart deformities. Many neonatal nurses work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) providing specialized medical care to at-risk newborns.{{Cite web|url=http://nann.org/professional-development/what-is-neonatal-nursing|title=Is a Career in Neonatal Nursing Right for You?}}

A dysmature newborn "is one whose developmental level is poor at birth.{{sfn|Thompson |1976 |p=71}} These newborns require a special type of care, due to their health issues, such as:{{sfn|Thompson |1976 |p=73-74}}

Inadequate respiratory function
Poor control of body temperature
Increased tendency to bleed
Poor resistance to infection
Poor nutrition
Immature kidneys and skin
Jaundice

Neonatal nurses employ medical techniques, including the use of incubators. Essentially, the incubator "provide[s] proper heat, humidity, oxygen, and mist... and protection from infection."{{sfn|Thompson |1976 |p=74 }} The medical apparatus provides essential medical care for at-risk newborns.{{sfn|Thompson |1976 |p=75}}{{cite web |last1=Healthwise Staff |title=Isolette (Incubator) |url=https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tn6470&lang=en-ca |website=Healthwise}}

= Emergency nursing =

Pediatric nurses are expected to provide a quick response to stressful circumstances in life-threatening situations. Key features of pediatric emergency nursing include:{{Cite web|title=Role of pediatric emergency nursing|url=http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/exclusive/role_of_pediatric_emergency_nursing.html|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.multibriefs.com}}

Handling multifaceted trauma, injury or illness cases without letting the patients succumb to the urgency of the situation
Stabilizing patients
Quickly diagnosing conditions and providing on-spot solutions
Administering appropriate medications to address pain
Upgrading skills and knowledge
Remaining patient and caring for the traumatized families accompanying the patient
Maintaining equanimity around patients who do not improve.{{Cite web|url=http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/exclusive/role_of_pediatric_emergency_nursing.html*.Vzsof0xWm00|title=Role of pediatric emergency nursing|last=Majudmar|first=A.D.|date=2010|website=Multibriefs}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= Pediatric nurse practitioners =

Pediatric nurse practitioner must attend school for at least two years after earning a bachelor's degree, pass an examination, and apply to their state board of nursing.{{Cite web|title=Pediatric Nursing Careers|url=http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/about/forstudents|access-date=2016-10-25|website=www.pncb.org}}

= Psychiatric Nursing =

Some pediatric nurses can choose to return to school for their masters in psychiatric nursing. Pediatric psychiatric nurses are responsible for caring for children and adolescents with psychiatric problems.

Goals

Normalize the life of the child during hospitalization.
Minimize the impact of the child's unique condition.
Foster growth and development.
Develop realistic, functional and coordinated home care plans.
Respect the roles of the families.
Prevent disease and promote health.

Training

= Australia =

A registered nursing license is required to practice. A registered nurse requires a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), a 3–4 years full-time training. Once completed 12–18 months in a clinical setting is required, followed by completing a graduate certificate in pediatric nursing.{{Cite web|title=How to Become a Paediatric Nurse|url=http://nursingcourses.net.au/paediatric-nurse/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Nursing Courses|language=en}}

= United States =

The CPN (certified pediatric nurse) exam validates knowledge and expertise beyond the prerequisite Registered Nurse (RN) licensure. Eligible RNs may have a diploma, associate's degree, BSN, MSN, or higher nursing degree and must have a minimum of 1800 hours of pediatric nursing experience. Over 30,000 nurses actively held CPN certification as of April 15, 2021.{{cite web|title=Pediatric Nursing Certificate Board|url=http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/pn/index|access-date=27 March 2015}}

Training involves a mix of formal education and clinical experiences. Pediatric nurses can become certified in the field and may choose to further specialize. Students can enroll in an associate or bachelor's degree program. Some diploma programs offered exclusively through hospitals may also prepare students for the RN exam.

Global development

= Southern and eastern Africa =

Strengthening the pediatric nursing workforce has been recommended as a primary strategy to reduce under-five mortality in African nations.{{cite web|title=GHWA task force on scaling up education and training for health workers. Country case study: Malawi's emergency human resources programme |location=Geneva|publisher= WHO|url=http://www.who.int/workforcealliance/knowledge/case_studies/CS_Malawi_web_En.pdf}} Children make up close to half the population in many African countries, but research suggests that children's nurses often make up less than 1% of the nursing workforce: a 2019 workforce survey found approximately 4,000 qualified children's nurses in South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya. The majority (8/10) were in South Africa.{{Cite journal|title=The children's nursing workforce in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia: generating an initial indication of the extent of the workforce and training activity|last1=North|first1= N. |last2=Shung-King |first2=M.|last3=Coetzee |first3=M. |year=2019|journal=Human Resources for Health |volume=17|issue=1 |doi = 10.1186/s12960-019-0366-4|page=30|pmid = 31064414|pmc = 6505296 |doi-access=free }}

Career overview

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Pediatric nurses work in settings including doctor's offices and community-based settings to hospitals and critical care facilities.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} Pediatric nurses may assist pediatricians or work alongside them. Pediatric nurses offer primary care services such as diagnosing and treating common childhood illnesses and conducting developmental screenings.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} Acute care and specialty services are also available for the chronically ill. Some pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners specialize in areas such as cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology or oncology.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} Pediatric nurses are responsible for helping patients adapt to a hospital setting and prepare them for medical treatments and procedures. Nurses also coach parents to observe and wait for important signs and responses to therapies, to increase the child's comfort, and even to provide ongoing care.{{fact|date=April 2022}}

= Education =

Pediatric nursing specialties require specialized education. Nurses must first become a registered nurse (RN), gain experience in a pediatric health care facility and then pass the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) exam.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-10|title=How to Become a Pediatric Nurse|url=https://www.herzing.edu/become/pediatric-nurse|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Herzing University|language=en}} If a CPN wants to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, they must return to school to receive their masters. 45% of undergraduate pediatric nursing students reported a lack of student direct care clinical learning opportunities with children {{Cite web|title=Resources|url=https://ipedsnursing.org/resources|access-date=2021-09-21|website=IPN|language=en}}

= Counseling =

Injury-prevention strategies and anticipatory guidance are provided via counseling. Helping the child or family solve a problem is often a focus, usually provided by advanced practice nurses or other experienced nurses.{{Cite book|title=Paediatric Nursing in Australia|last=Fraser|first=J.|publisher=Cambridge|year=2014|isbn=978-1-107-68500-0}}

= Advocacy =

The effective advocate nurse must be aware of the child's and the family's needs, the family's resources, and available health care services.{{Cite journal|last=Sterling|first=Yvonne M.|date=2013-05-01|title=Pediatric Nurses as Advocates|journal=Journal of Pediatric Nursing|language=en|volume=28|issue=3|pages=309–310|doi=10.1016/j.pedn.2013.02.022|pmid=23473712|issn=0882-5963|doi-access=free}} Nurses help reinforce families to help them make knowledgeable choices about medical services and to act in the child's best interests. Dr. Margaret Miles was a pioneer in family-centered care in pediatric nursing, taking parental stress into consideration when their child is sick.