How to Become a Pediatric Nurse

5 Steps to Becoming a Pediatric Nurse

FAQ on Becoming a Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric Nurse Salary, Employment and Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were just over 2.9 million registered nurses working in 2017. The BLS does not parse out the number of pediatric nursing professionals employed in the U.S. from the pool of RNs or nurse practitioners.

However, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners reports that in 2015 there were more than 18,000 nurses who held its two specialty nurse practitioner certifications, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board reports that more than 25,000 RNs have earned the certified Pediatric Nurse credential.

Median annual wages for RNs in 2017 was $70,000, the BLS reports. However, wages for nurses in specialty fields such as pediatrics can be higher, especially if they complete graduate-level degrees and demonstrate their competency by earning certifications such as the Certified Pediatric Nurse designation. Median annual wages for nurse practitioners, meanwhile, was $103,880. The higher salary is commensurate with their higher level of education and greater range of responsibilities. For both professions, wages were higher in hospitals than other healthcare settings. Wages also increase for mid-career and highly experienced professionals versus entry-level candidates.

According to Payscale.com, the average annual salary for pediatric nurse practitioners in the U.S. was $85,815. Pediatric nurses, meanwhile, earned median annual wages of $57,360. Wages likely are higher for more specialized positions, such as pediatric operating room nurse, pediatric emergency room nurse, or pediatric oncology nurse practitioner.

Nursing professionals are in high demand due to America's rapidly aging population and its continued battles against diabetes and obesity. According to the BLS, the number of registered nurses is expected to grow 15 percent, or 438,100 new jobs, through 2026. The online community Nurse Journal estimates similar demand for pediatric nurses.

According to the Institute of Pediatric Nursing, nearly a third of all pediatric nurses work in standalone children's hospitals, while another 28 percent work in children's hospitals associated with a major medical center. Just under 10 percent work in community hospitals.

Finding a Pediatric Nurse Program

There are many different considerations that go into choosing a pediatric nursing program. Students who enroll at a nearby college don't have to weigh as many factors (location, class size, placement of clinical rotations, etc.), but students who pursue online nursing degrees have a lot more options to consider.

Here are a few of the primary factors students should weight before applying to a nursing program:

• What's the end goal? Working as a pediatric nurse in a hospital typically requires a minimum educational attainment of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. Earning one of the specialty certifications in pediatric nursing or working as a nurse practitioner requires graduate-level education. Placing the end-goal in mind narrows down what type of degree to pursue.
• Cost. Tuition cost should be a primary consideration prior to making a long-term commitment to a college or university. Ensuring adequate funding is available to complete the program prior to enrollment helps avoid any missteps or financial hardships. Keep in mind that tuition costs are much higher for out-of-state students – cost-minded students may have to choose a college in their home state.
• Length. How much time can you realistically dedicate to your studies? First-year college students who wish to work as pediatric nurse practitioners are looking at roughly six full years of study between their bachelor's and master's degrees. A lot can change in that span.
• Type of program. Today's students have more options than ever before with accelerated degrees, online degrees, self-guided degrees, hybrid degrees, and of course, on-campus degree programs. Knowing what type of program best fits your learning style helps alleviate difficulties in completing the program.

Other factors to consider include location, accreditation, specialties offered, and NCLEX-RN exam pass rates.

Use the search tool below to help begin narrowing down the search for the right nursing education program.

Top 10 Pediatric Nurse Associations & Groups

Pediatric nursing associations provide a wealth of resources for nursing professionals, including networking opportunities, national conferences, continuing education, job search strategies, interviewing tips and many forms of personal development. Membership in these organizations promotes opportunities to develop key industry relationships, as well as build and refine nursing skills and care practices.

These are 10 of the top industry organizations for pediatric nurses and pediatric nurse practitioners:

Additional Resources for Pediatric Nurses

From mobile phone apps to websites, there's no shortage of resources to help pediatric nurses do their jobs more efficiently and gain additional knowledge about their specialty nursing field. Here's a handful:

Become Team

Contributing Writer

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