Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Jobs

Description

Pediatric critical-care nursing jobs deal specifically with human responses to life-threatening problems with children and adolescents. Pediatric nursing job requirements closely match those of more general critical care nurses, with the added complication of smaller bodies and patients who may not have the verbal or emotional maturity to communicate their symptoms or their fears. A pediatric critical-care nurse must also have the people skills necessary to handle the complex emotions of families concerned about the survival and welfare of their child(ren).

Responsibilities

Pediatric critical care nursing is a sub-specialty of general critical care nursing. Its responsibilities are largely the same, except that knowledge of physiological and psychological differences between children and adults is a must.

Education and Qualification

Pediatric critical care nursing jobs require, at a minimum, registered nurses, with the appropriate associates, bachelors or advanced degree and previous pediatric nursing job experience strongly preferred. Most pediatric critical care nurses find that they need additional training to handle the demands of the job. Many also pursue advanced degrees or certifications, such as Certified Critical Care Nursing (CCRN), in order to improve their skills and enhance their career possibilities. Specific requirements vary from state to state, which is why many critical care nurses choose to receive advanced training through their employer.

Associations and Publications