While the pediatric nurse practitioner salary is not the highest of the advanced nursing specializations, it is very likely one of the most rewarding areas in which a nurse practitioner can work. Most of the nurse practitioners working in pediatrics do so for one reason: they love helping children. While the median pediatric nurse practitioner salary is certainly still worth every minute of advance study at $65,527, it’s still quite a bit lower than the overall combined fields median nurse practitioner salary. However, this specialization will continue to experience overall employment growth over the next few years, making it not only a rewarding career choice, but quite possibly a stable one as well.
The pediatric nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who has undergone extensive specialty training in pediatrics. This allows them to offer care to babies, children, and even adolescents. Pediatric nurse practitioners may diagnose many common illnesses and injuries, offer physical screenings and exams, and can provide treatment, therapy, and medication to children of all ages. They often order lab panels and tests for diagnosis, including blood tests and x-rays as required. These professionals are also trained to administer common immunizations to children and assist them in managing chronic problems such as juvenile diabetes.
Pediatric nurses will very often tell you that they get unparalleled satisfaction from making a difference in the lives of their young patients. In addition to offering treatment to children, they also work with and counsel parents on how to effectively extend the child’s treatment at home and answer questions and concerns for worried parents. These situations can often be very difficult and stressful and it is the job of the pediatric nurse practitioner to work with their patients and their families during these trials. They combine clinical tests, diagnostic exams, medical records, and verbal communication to make treatment decisions that meet the requirements of their patient’s unique condition and effectively convey the treatment options to children and their parents.
As you might have assumed, decision making and problem solving skills are paramount to this area of specialization. Young children often have sensitive reactions to various forms of prescribed therapies and thus the pediatric nurse must always maintain ongoing awareness of potential complications that could arrive from a particular method of care.
Employment can be found in a variety of healthcare environments, as with most nursing positions. These can include offices of pediatric physician’s, schools, children’s hospitals, specialty clinics, and private and community-based hospitals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the growth within this profession should be in line with that of other similar nursing fields. This forecast predicts job growth of around 23% through the year 2016, which presents outstanding opportunity.
Common responsibilities for the pediatric nurse practitioner can include:
- Carrying out basic physical examinations, such as blood tests and respiratory evaluations
- Managing vaccination clinics and programs
- Meeting with children and their families to discuss diagnosis and formulate treatment options
- Assessing patient medical history
- Analyzing lab results
If you’re interested in a career in which you can make a positive impact on the lives of children, consider a career as a pediatric nurse. Again, while the pediatric nurse practitioner salary may not be the highest in nursing, the job could pay wonderful dividends in the smiles of youngsters with a brighter future.