what is a paediatric nurse?
As a paediatric nurse, you focus on children's medical care from infancy to teenage years. Your role is very important and focused since children's health is different from adults. When children are developing and growing, they need adequate care and attention. You usually work as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing medical care and support to children during treatment.
Your role may involve administering childhood immunisations or vaccinations and ensuring children are updated with their vaccination schedules. You also communicate with children and their families, making them comfortable throughout the treatment process. It is important to explain the health condition to the parents and help them talk to their children about the changes that certain conditions bring.
Sometimes, a paediatric nurse teaches other health professionals about children's health. You may work in hospitals or accompany the community nurse to vaccinate children in local communities. 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 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.
find your jobaverage paediatric nurse salary
According to Payscale, a paediatric nurse in India takes home a median salary of ₹275,000 per year. When you are in an entry-level position, you have minimal experience and are likely to earn an average salary of ₹266,250 per year. Experienced paediatric nurses make up to ₹414,500 annually.
H3: factors that affect paediatric nurses salary in India
As a paediatric nurse, your earnings depend on your experience and competencies. When you are starting in the role, you have minimal experience. As you improve your skills and competency, your salary also increases. Your educational qualifications also affect your earnings as a paediatric nurse. For instance, if you only have a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) qualification, you are likely to earn less compared to a Registered Nurse with a bachelor’s degree.
Where you work as a paediatric nurse also influences your earnings. For instance, working in hospitals and outpatient medical facilities attracts a different salary than working in rehabilitation centres.
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 children born prematurely or with congenital disabilities, heart deformities and infections. You are likely to work in neonatal intensive care units, monitoring babies' vital signs and educating parents on their children's illnesses and progress.
- developmental disability nurse: as a paediatric nurse, you can specialise in providing care to children with developmental disabilities, such as autism, Down's syndrome, Rett syndrome and Asperger's syndrome. You assist with feeding and bodily functions. You also help in developing a child's communication skills.
- palliative paediatric nurse: your job is to care for terminally ill children. You relieve suffering and provide children with the best quality care. You also prepare their families for the inevitable and assist with the necessary medical equipment for providing life support.
working as a paediatric nurse
Working as a paediatric nurse requires a lot of dedication and passion for providing specialised care. You also handle various specialised roles.
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paediatric nurse job description
While the specific duties depend on your specialisation and employer, typical roles of a paediatric nurse include:
- assessing the patient's condition: as a paediatric nurse, you perform the initial examination on a 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 their 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 the patient's symptoms, and you write down the doctor's diagnosis, recommended medicines or treatment plans.
- administering patient treatments: as a paediatric nurse, you make children feel comfortable in a hospital environment as you administer treatments. You 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 playrooms and intensive care units (ICUs). You also join social services that provide medical treatments to children living in small communities. When you work with community nurses, you provide immunisations and work from community health centres or coordinate external campaigns. Some paediatric nurses also work in neonatal intensive care units that require a high hygiene level to protect premature babies from infections. On the hospital floor, you wear uniforms like other registered nurses. In the ICU, you need additional protective clothing to prevent the spread of infections.
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who are your colleagues?
Paediatric nurses work in medical facilities alongside doctors, pharmacists and general nurses. You also interact with optometrists, physiotherapists and dietitians when your patients require specialist care. Other professionals in the hospital environment that you are likely to collaborate with include healthcare assistants and pharmacy assistants.
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work schedule
Paediatric nurses typically work 35 to 40 hours a week. However, you work in shifts when employed by a hospital. Shift schedules allow the hospital to provide round-the-clock patient care. Part-time opportunities are available in clinics and social care work. When you work a full-time role, you are likely to work overtime and occasional weekends. If your employer has a shift schedule, sometimes you work night or early morning shifts. Paediatric nurses also work on public holidays.
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job outlook
As a paediatric nurse, you work towards becoming a paediatrician or a doctor. Apart from progressing upwards, you can specialise in a specific field of paediatric nursing, like becoming a palliative paediatric nurse. The role allows you to provide personalised care to children with terminal illnesses and conditions. If you enjoy working in cardiology or oncology, you can become a paediatric cardiac nurse or paediatric oncology nurse.
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advantages of finding a paediatric nurse job through randstad
Finding your paediatric nurse job through Randstad provides important advantages 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 on a monthly basis
- 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. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
There are three routes to becoming a paediatric nurse in India. After completing your higher secondary education (10+2), fulfil the requirements from the Indian Nursing Council (INC). You can pursue a degree in nursing, a four-year undergraduate program. The course requires physics, chemistry and biology (PCB) streams in your 10+2. The second route to becoming a clinical nurse is pursuing the GNM for three years before gaining additional qualifications to become a paediatric nurse.
Some paediatric nurses start with a two-year undergraduate diploma recognised by the INC. The Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM) offers basic education in various nursing specialities. When you complete the nursing courses, register with your respective State Nursing Registration Council, like the Delhi Nursing Council. After you complete a bachelor's degree, you must register as a Registered Nurse (RN). With a GNM diploma, you register as a Registered Nurse Registered Midwife (RNRM).
paediatric nurse skills and competencies
The qualities needed by a paediatric nurse include:
- communication skills: as a paediatric nurse, you need exceptional verbal and written communication skills. You create and write forms for patient needs and update their files. Verbal skills help you communicate with children effectively and ease their fears during medical procedures.
- interpersonal skills: as a paediatric nurse, you work with other healthcare professionals to administer patient care. You need teamwork skills to ensure the patient receives treatment on time. People skills also help you deal with parents experiencing a stressful time. You form trusting relationships and support child patients and their families.
- technological skills: as a paediatric nurse, you may deal with chronic and terminal illnesses. Sometimes, your role involves taking care of patients on life support, which requires expertise in operating various medical equipment.
- relationship-building skills: as a paediatric nurse, you require relationship-building skills to connect with your patients and make them feel comfortable. Since you work with kids, building strong relationships helps them open up.
FAQs about working as a paediatric nurse
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a paediatric nurse.
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what is the main role of a paediatric nurse?
As a paediatric nurse, you check and discuss a child’s symptoms with the physician. You review their medical history and provide initial care as they wait for the paediatrician. You also administer medication and track their progress.
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where does a paediatric nurse work?
As a paediatric nurse, you work in hospitals and outpatient medical facilities. Other paediatric nurses work in nursing homes, taking care of children with severe conditions or disabilities. You may also work in military hospitals and schools.
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is paediatric nursing a good career in India?
As a paediatric nurse, you play a vital role in caring for and providing medical care to children, from newborns to teenagers. Aside from the fulfilment of helping children, being a paediatric nurse is a rewarding career with a lucrative salary.
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what are the skills of a paediatric nurse?
As a paediatric nurse, you should be compassionate and empathetic to provide children with the best care. It is important to be intuitive and observant to notice subtle symptoms of serious medical conditions. Your communication skills also help you excel in the role.
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how much does a paediatric nurse make in India?
The average salary of a paediatric nurse in India is ₹275,000 per year. In an entry-level position, you start with a salary of ₹266,250 annually. The most experienced paediatric nurses make over ₹414,500 per year.
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how do I apply for a paediatric nurse vacancy?
Applying for a paediatric nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
