Asking “Should I be a nurse?” is only step one! The second step is figuring out what kind of nurse you should be. Here’s what you need to know about pediatric nursing: job description, career tips, and the best and worse of working as a nurse in the children’s ward of a hospital in London.
Alison, aged 37, is a Senior Pediatric Staff Nurse on Starlight Ward, Homerton University Hospital, Hackney, London. She says, “It’s the best job in the world and I love it.”
Alison retrained as a Pediatric Nurse in her thirties after working in offices for over fifteen years. She has been nursing for five years. Here she gives us the inside scoop on Pediatric Nursing – including career tips for people wondering if they should be nurses.
Pediatric Nurse Job Description
Alison is a Senior Pediatric Staff Nurse who looks after sick children and their families in a hospital setting. She takes observations, educates and explains to children and their families about the procedures that they will be facing, and maintains client records.
How Much Does a Nurse Make?
In Britain, where Alison works, nurses earn about £30,000 per annum. Alison has a Diploma in Nursing, Child Branch, which took three years of university study. She found the study very hard but the practical experience convinced her to keep going. It is also expected that she will constantly update her education through off-site courses and workplace learning.
The Best Parts of Nursing Sick Children (why you should be a nurse!)
Alison enjoys the responsibility of her job and the different ways that she can help people.
“I love working with children and their families from all different sections of our society,” she says. “And knowing that I’m delivering the best care and support I possibly can, during what can be an incredibly upsetting and distressing time. And just seeing the smiles when a child leaves the hospital make it a very special job.”
The Challenges of Being a Nurse
People in a stressful situation often react badly, and it’s part of Alison’s job as a nurse to deal with those people.
“People shouting at me is a hard part of this job, especially when I’m working in our very busy Accident and Emergency department and family members tell me they pay my wages so they should be seen first,” she says. “And the government cutting our funding and always having to think of ways to save money all the time.”
Career Tips for Pediatric Nursing
Alison says that if you are thinking about a career in pediatric nursing, “DO IT!!! Having spent 20 years working in an office and hating it, to spend twelve hours at work and finish completely exhausted is so rewarding.
“It’s the best job in the world,” she says. “Although I found the university study really hard, it was worth all the tears to graduate and become the best nurse I can be. I wish I’d done it years ago.”
And remember: pediatric nursing isn’t about losing children – often, nurses and hospitals succeed in helping sick children get better!
And, visit the job hunting and careers page on Amazon for resources on choosing a career, searching for jobs, and figuring out where you fit in the “working world.”
If you’re still a student, read 10 High Paying Part Time Jobs for College Students.
Do you have any questions or thoughts on this nursing job description, or working as a Pediatric Nurse? Please comment below.
Alison is a Senior Pediatric Staff Nurse in one of London’s lowest socio-economic areas. She lives just outside of London with her fiancè and two very naughty spaniels. Written by Paul Callaghan, a New Zealand based freelance writer, blogger and editor. Paul is available for all your writing needs. Visit his blog at www.callaghanwrites.blogspot.com.
