What does it take to be an awesome pediatric nurse? For any nurse, helping people should be at or near the top of your reasons for getting into the profession. Nursing may be hard work, but the reward that comes with making a difference in the health and well-being of someone’s life makes it all worthwhile.
This is especially true for pediatric nursing. The positive impact extends not only to the youngest and most vulnerable children, but the people who love and care for them.
If you’re passionate about giving quality care to children and their families, pediatric nursing is the right career for you! However, you need to start by understanding the skills required to be a pediatric nurse. Superstar pediatric nurses display great communication skills and a deep understanding of child development and pediatric health conditions. Above all, pediatric nurses need the emotional resilience to handle the challenges and joys that come with caring for children.
The Top 10 Skills Needed To Be a Pediatric Nurse
Care Options for Kids is dedicated to ensuring the success of our nurses and helping them stay current with the latest trends, technologies, protocols, and training opportunities in this rewarding profession. This helpful blog explores the top skills needed to be a pediatric nurse and to help you excel in this specialized and impactful field.
1. Communication Skills
Therapeutic communication is one of the basic skills needed to be a pediatric nurse — or any nurse! You must quickly build rapport and trust with people in stressful situations. Nurses of all stripes also need to actively listen to concerns and explain complex medical terminology and procedures. Pediatric nursing brings the added complexity of communicating effectively with children of all ages and their families.
Successful pediatric nurses know how to explain medical procedures in an understandable and reassuring way. You also have to be able to listen to concerns and answer questions with empathy and clarity. If you’re getting into pediatric nursing, be ready to take it slow and explain things simply. You also need to be natural, talk to young children at their level, and keep things as lively and upbeat as possible.
2. Clinical Skills and Pediatric Health Knowledge
Of course, you need to be sharp in your clinical skills, but it’s a little different in pediatrics. Children are more than just smaller adults; as a pediatric nurse, you need to approach it this way. Growing children have unique health needs as they develop, and one of the essential skills necessary to be a pediatric nurse is recognizing these needs and responding appropriately. To be a great pediatric nurse, you need to be an expert in:
- Child development
- Common pediatric illnesses
- Specialized treatments
Pediatric nurses must stay informed about the latest advancements in pediatric healthcare to provide the best care possible. Care Options for Kids is committed to the highest level of knowledge and expertise for our pediatric nurses through ongoing development programs, continuing education, and unparalleled clinical support.
3. Attention to Detail
Nothing gets past you, right? Pediatric nurses know that small details can have big consequences. For example, missing a dosage or misreading a dietary restriction can substantially impact safety. When caring for children who may not be able to articulate symptoms accurately, including clients with developmental delays or disabilities, this attention to detail is an even more critical skill needed to be a pediatric nurse.
Pediatric nurses need keen observation skills to notice the most subtle changes in behavior or physical conditions. Detailed observation helps pediatric nurses detect minor changes in a child's behavior or vital signs that may indicate a developing issue.
Yet another skill is precise and thorough documentation. Detailed records help ensure continuity of care, accurate treatment plans, and clear communication among the healthcare team. This is super important in pediatric settings where multiple caregivers may be involved.
4. Emotional Resilience
Working with children facing complex and serious medical issues can be emotionally challenging. Pediatric nurses spend a significant amount of time caring for seriously ill or injured children with difficult diagnoses. Dedicated pediatric nurses excel at keeping their cool, maintaining their composure, and providing compassionate care in difficult situations.
Emotional resilience is an often overlooked skill needed to be a pediatric nurse. However, it is vital for nurses to deliver high-quality care, make clear-headed decisions, follow protocols, and ensure safety. Children and families adapting to life-changing conditions look to nurses to handle changing circumstances calmly and steadily. This is why it is so critical for pediatric nurses to practice self-care techniques and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
5. Compassion
Pediatric nurses need a big heart. As discussed above, pediatric nursing can be emotionally draining. But at the end of the day, all the emotional resilience you build up needs to be at the service of helping people. Becoming a pediatric nurse means that compassion needs to be at the heart of everything you do. It’s about more than just medical care. It's about providing emotional support and creating a nurturing environment for healing.
6. Patience
Every nurse knows that patience isn’t just a virtue; it’s a way of life! Well, that goes double for pediatric nurses. Young children and families rely on pediatric nurses to be a steady, guiding presence while receiving care. It is normal for children to feel anxious, uncooperative, or frightened in medical settings, which can test the patience of even the most seasoned medical professional.
For pediatric nurses, simply cultivating and displaying patience can go a long way toward calming children and families, gaining trust, and helping them feel comfortable during examinations and treatments.
7. Adaptability
Every child is unique, and pediatric nurses must be adaptable in their approach to each client. Healthcare is inherently unpredictable, and being prepared for changes and challenges can help nurses remain adaptable. Setting realistic expectations and being ready to pivot as needed is also essential.
One of the key skills needed to be a pediatric nurse is tailoring care methods to suit the individual needs and developmental stages of children. This is especially important in specialties such as pediatric home health, where nurses often work independently and provide direct care. Recognizing that each family and situation is different, continuously working on problem-solving abilities, and practicing critical thinking and decision-making skills are all areas that any pediatric nurse needs to integrate into their daily routine.
8. Stamina and Energy
Nurses need energy — anyone who works with kids needs energy! Undoubtedly, working with kids can be physically and mentally demanding. If you’re a pediatric nurse, maintaining stamina is another reason to practice self-care, get plenty of rest, and stay fed and hydrated. Stamina is the skill needed to be a pediatric nurse that will help you keep up with the fast pace and long hours, ensuring you’re always at your best.
9. Playfulness
The big secret pediatric nurses will tell you is that it can be fun, too! Sometimes, the best way to help a child feel comfortable is to get on their level. Whether making a silly face, playing a quick game, or telling a funny story, a bit of playfulness can ease their nerves and build trust.
Even with all the attention to detail, hard work, and clinical expertise required, don’t forget to stay in touch with your inner child and have fun! Playfulness is absolutely required as a skill needed to be a pediatric nurse.
10. Teamwork
Teamwork makes the dream work! Teamwork could not be more important as a skill needed to be a pediatric nurse. Pediatric nurses often work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including doctors, specialists, and other healthcare professionals. Strong teamwork and collaboration skills are essential to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for young children. Collaboration and teamwork enable nurses to share knowledge and experiences, learn from others, and adapt their practices based on collective insights and support to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people they help.
Supporting team collaboration is a fundamental element of the healthcare culture at Care Options for Kids. We believe that strong teams provide higher-quality care through seamless support, which is why we offer a 24/7 line that nurses can call for any level of assistance. We also share knowledge, insights, and guidance with less experienced nurses and mentor new nursing grads one-on-one with experienced pediatric care professionals.
Join the Care Options For Kids Team!
Are you ready for meaningful work that comes with benefits and not burnout? Join the compassionate care team that helps children and families live their best lives. Our clinicians provide best-in-class pediatric nursing, therapy, and school-based services. We bring individualized care to children where they live, work, and play. We have opportunities in homes, schools, and clinics across the country.
Apply at Care Options for Kids now. We make it easy to start so you can make a difference as soon as possible.
