Pediatric nurses guide children through processes like immunizations, screenings, and specific treatments or conditions, such as chickenpox. Many medical workers find it most difficult to cope with the illness or loss of a young patient, so it can make for an emotionally draining career for some.
Pediatric nurses tend to many different job responsibilities. Some of their core duties include developmental screenings and assessments, performing well-child examinations, administering immunizations, caring for and treating common childhood illnesses, and conducting school or sports physical exams. Some of the most common illnesses these nurses treat include rashes, flu, colds, asthma, and physical injuries.
Pediatric nurses also care for patients experiencing chronic conditions, including childhood cancer, type I diabetes, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. These nurses provide lactation and newborn education, teen birth control counseling, and they act as liaisons between physicians and families.
