What has surprised me about being a registered nurse is the amount of lives that you touch and help. Holding someone's hand and assuring them that things will be...[full comment]
The best part of my job is knowing that I am helping to make children healthier and at times ease their fears. Also, in the office setting a nurse is...[full comment]
1. Try to get into a bachelor's program first, rather than getting an associate's and then going back to school later on for your bachelor's. 2. Nursing school is a...[full comment]
The best part of my job is teaching. In my role as staff nurse, I have the opportunity to teach parents how to care for their children, whether they're ill...[full comment]
I think the most important part of being a pediatric nurse, is being comfortable around children of all age groups. I would highly recommend volunteering in a facility that cares...[full comment]
School and Career Surprises: Tips From People on the Job
Each comment from a pediatric nurse includes their career and school satisfaction ratings.
Career: "What has surprised me about being a registered nurse is the amount of lives that you touch and help. Holding someone's hand and assuring them that things will be alright, hugging that parent whose child is in the hospital or simply seeing a patient's face light up when they see you are all things that surprised me when I first became a nurse."
School: Studied Nursing at Texas State Technical College in Texas; completed Bachelor degree in 2004. Career: Registered Nurse, male, 8 years of experience, currently based in Texas.
Best & Worst Things About This Career
As reported by people currently doing the job
"The best part of my job is knowing that I am helping to make children healthier and at times ease their fears. Also, in the office setting a nurse is able to develop a trusting relationship with patients and their families because you see them again and again for different reasons. The worst part of my job is seeing children with terminal illnesses or diseases that leave them with little to no quality of life."
School : AS, Nursing Career: Pediatric Nurse, currently based in Massachusetts.;
"The best part of my job is teaching. In my role as staff nurse, I have the opportunity to teach parents how to care for their children, whether they're ill or not. I also have the opportunity to teach student nurses how to care for sick children. Teaching allows you the opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. Teaching others about a new diagnosis or conditions is very rewarding. It also challenges you to stay current will new procedures and treatments. The Worst part of the job would have to be the conflicting demands on my time. Children are admitted to the hospital sick and parents are expected to take them home "iller," with very limited resources at home. As a bedside nurse, I'm under pressure to teach parents everything they need to feel comfortable caring for their child at home in a short span of time."
School : BSN, Northeastern University Certified Pediatric Nurse Career: Registered Nurse, currently based in Massachusetts.;
Tips for Succeeding in This Career
Helpful Info From Insiders
"1. Try to get into a bachelor's program first, rather than getting an associate's and then going back to school later on for your bachelor's. 2. Nursing school is a lot of hard work. Try to find a group of students you work well with and form a study group.. It will really pay off. 3. Sign up for a prep course before taking your NCLEX exam (the test you take to get your nursing license). They fill you with the type of information you need to be prepared for the test."
School : AS, Nursing Career: Pediatric Nurse, currently based in Massachusetts.;
"I think the most important part of being a pediatric nurse, is being comfortable around children of all age groups. I would highly recommend volunteering in a facility that cares for children: a half way house, or a teen shelter. It could even be coaching. Increase your familiarity with various age groups while they are healthy. This will help you learn how they ought to appear and behave and how to react toward them when they are ill. I would also recommend a nursing program with a strong clinical base. I attended a program that had a co-op part, thus giving me the experience of working with the ill before I graduated. This was a true advantage. My last piece of advice would be to keep your mind and your options open. College can be a time of great discovery. There are so many opportunities in health care now. Allow yourself the opportunity to find something you love, and have a passion for, and you will be happy and fulfilled."
School : BSN, Northeastern University Certified Pediatric Nurse Career: Registered Nurse, currently based in Massachusetts.;
