what is a paediatric nurse?
As a paediatric nurse, you focus on children's medical care from infancy to the teenage years. Your role is essential since children's health is different from that of adults. You usually work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide medical care and support children during treatment.
Your role may involve administering childhood immunisations or vaccinations and ensuring children are up-to-date with their vaccination schedule. You also interact with children and their families, making them comfortable throughout the treatment. You explain health conditions to parents and help them talk to their children about the changes accompanying their illnesses.
Sometimes, a paediatric nurse teaches other health professionals about children's health. You may work in hospitals or community settings, including mining communities. You may accompany community nurses to vaccinate children. Your job also involves conducting clinical research on various health conditions affecting children in a specific region. The research helps you discover appropriate treatment methods for some conditions.
As a paediatric nurse, you will likely work in a hospital, paediatric clinic or school. You can also work in care homes or hospices for children with terminal illnesses. Some paediatric nurses work for social services or government agencies to help children in social care.
paediatric nurse jobsaverage paediatric nurse salary
As a paediatric nurse, you earn an average salary of $ 91,444 per year. Entry-level paediatric nurses with minimal skills start with a salary of $78,964 annually. With experience or additional qualifications, you will earn an average remuneration of $120,619 annually. The earnings of paediatric nurses often vary based on where they work and their educational qualifications or experience.
what factors affect the salary of a paediatric nurse?
The remuneration package of a paediatric nurse mainly depends on the level of education. When you have additional expertise or specialisation, you are likely to earn more than paediatric nurses with fewer qualifications. While most paediatric nurses start as registered nurses, having additional experience or a background of working with children can increase your remuneration prospects.
Aside from your certifications and experience, your work location can affect your earnings. Some states or territories pay more paediatric nurses due to the high demand for the role. Working in metro areas also increases your remuneration prospects.
Want to know what you will earn as a paediatric nurse? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of paediatric nurses
Types of paediatric nurses depend on the area of specialisation, including:
• neonatal nurse: your job is to provide care and support to infants. You specialise in working with children born prematurely or with congenital disabilities, heart deformities and infections. You will likely work in neonatal intensive care units monitoring babies' vital signs and educating parents on their children's conditions and progress.
• developmental disability nurse: as a paediatric nurse, you can specialise in caring for children with developmental disabilities like autism, Down's syndrome and Rett syndrome. You may assist with feeding, bodily functions and developing a child's communication skills.
• palliative paediatric nurse: your job is to care for terminally ill children. You relieve suffering and provide the best quality care. You also prepare the families for the inevitable and assist with the necessary medical equipment for providing life support.
working as a paediatric nurse
If you are passionate about working with children and improving their well-being, working as a paediatric nurse is an exciting career. Read on for information on daily activities and work environments associated with the role.
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paediatric nurse job description
Typical roles of a paediatric nurse include:
• assessing the patient's condition: you perform the initial examination on the child to determine their overall well-being. That includes taking temperature readings and measuring vital signs. You can also examine their body for swelling and other conditions. You check the nose, eyes and ears for anomalies and record the information in their medical files.
• observing patients and writing down treatment plans: as a paediatric nurse, you are part of a multidisciplinary team and attend doctor's consultation meetings with children. You inform the doctor of your observations and write down the doctor's diagnosis, recommended medicines and treatment plans.
• administering patient treatments: making children feel comfortable in the hospital environment as you administer treatments is crucial. You can explain how to take medicine and help them follow their prescriptions.
• teaching patients and families about post-treatment care: as a paediatric nurse, you communicate with parents and patients throughout the treatment process. It is important to emphasise how to manage symptoms and speed up recovery. If the child has a terminal illness, you guide the parents in adjusting their lifestyles to improve the patient's care.
• monitoring children's condition in intensive care: as a paediatric nurse, you may work in the intensive care unit to monitor young patients' progress. Your job is to operate medical equipment and monitor vitals for signs of life-threatening reactions to medication or surgical procedures.
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work environment
As a paediatric nurse, you work in children's hospitals, medical centres and outpatient clinics. Most large hospitals have a dedicated children's wing with specialised facilities, including intensive care units. You can also join social services to provide medical treatments to children living in small communities. When you work with community nurses, you provide immunisation and work from community health centres or coordinate external campaigns.
Some paediatric nurses also work in neonatal intensive care units that require a high level of hygiene to protect premature babies from infections. On the hospital floor, you wear uniforms like other registered nurses; in an ICU, you need additional protective clothing to prevent infections.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include registered nurses, midwives and neonatal nurses. You might also be working close to paediatricians and doctors, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, gynaecologists, community health nurses and clinical nurses.
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work schedule
A paediatric nurse typically works 35 to 40 hours a week. However, you work shifts in a hospital to provide round-the-clock patient care. Part-time opportunities are available in clinics and social care work. In a full-time role, you will likely work overtime occasionally at weekends. If your employer has a shift schedule, you sometimes work night shifts or early mornings. Paediatric nurses may also work on public holidays.
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job outlook
As a paediatric nurse, you can work towards becoming a paediatrician or GP. As well as progressing upwards, you can specialise in various fields of paediatric nursing, like becoming a palliative paediatric nurse or working in paediatric cardiology or oncology.
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advantages of finding a paediatric nurse job through randstad
Finding your paediatric nurse job through Randstad provides essential benefits such as:
• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a paediatric nurse is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
You require the following educational qualifications to become a paediatric nurse:
• educational qualifications: all paediatrician nurses are registered nurses. That means completing a bachelor's degree in nursing. You can gain entry to the course if you meet the conditions of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Nursing degrees take three years with a blend of classwork and clinical nursing experience. If you have a degree in a different clinical field, complete a master's degree in nursing.
• become a registered nurse: to work as a nurse in Australia, apply to NMBA for registration. For specialised roles like paediatric nursing, you must complete a graduate certificate to improve your knowledge.
paediatric nurse skills and competencies
Some of the qualities of a paediatric nurse include the following:
• clinical skills: paediatric nurses require basic clinical nursing skills. For instance, you take vitals, temperature readings and blood pressure readings. You need clinical skills to complete the medical procedures expected in the role.
• communication skills: as a paediatric nurse, you communicate with parents and children to help with the treatment plan. Your communication skills help you pass information clearly to parents and explain complex medical procedures. Written communication skills are also helpful in preparing reports.
• problem-solving skills: when problems arise, you use your problem-solving skills to handle patient issues. You also require patience to support children during complex medical procedures.
• empathy: as a paediatric nurse, being compassionate and empathetic to patients is essential. Empathy helps you connect with the children and understand their needs. When you are empathetic, you provide better care.
paediatric nurse skills and competencies
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a paediatric nurse.
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what does a paediatric nurse do?
As a paediatric nurse, you provide nursing care to children and toddlers. You care for children in hospitals and community centres and explain their medical conditions to parents. You may also be involved in immunisation and vaccination programs when you work in community health centres.
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what qualifications do you require to be a paediatric nurse?
To become a paediatric nurse in Australia, you require a bachelor's degree in nursing and registration with NMBA. When you have experience in other clinical fields, you can complete a master's degree in nursing. You also require extensive experience in nursing or a relevant healthcare profession.
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how much do paediatric nurses earn?
As a paediatric nurse, your earnings depend on your experience and educational qualifications. The average remuneration package is $91,444 per year. In entry-level positions, your earnings are $78,964 annually and increase to $120,619 per year with experience. Depending on the responsibilities or demands, different states and territories have diverse remuneration packages for paediatric nurses.
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what is the difference between paediatric nurses and registered nurses?
A registered nurse performs clinical duties in hospitals or community health centres. Their duties are generalised, meaning they can work with adults and children. A paediatric nurse is also a registered nurse who specialises in paediatrics. They assist with administering treatment to children.
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how do I apply for a paediatric nurse vacancy?
Applying for a paediatric nurse job is straightforward: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
