[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You might have [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become/”]become a pediatric nurse[/hen-ui-link] for various reasons, including wanting to work with children and families. Now, you may want to further your career by choosing a pediatric nursing specialty.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses are among some of the [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/best-nursing-specialities-for-the-future//”]best paid nursing specialties[/hen-ui-link]. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pediatric_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]According to Payscale[/hen-ui-link], these nurses earn an average salary of $61,281 as of December 2022. Pursuing an additional subspecialty may allow you to further increase your earning potential.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We ranked the best direct-care pediatric nursing specialties for registered nurses based on the following factors:[/hen-ui-text]

• Responsibilities working with children from infancy to adolescence
• [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/salary/”]Average annual salary[/hen-ui-link]
• Steps to become
• Recommended [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nursing-certifications/”]nursing certifications [/hen-ui-link]
• Common career traits

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Each [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/”]pediatric nursing[/hen-ui-link] speciality requires specific soft skills, but the most common skills for pediatric nurses are:[/hen-ui-text]

• Communication
• Empathy
• Teamwork
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learn more about pediatric nursing specialties and find out which one is right for you.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]24 Highest Paying Pediatric Nursing Specialties[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]1. Postpartum Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/postpartum-nurse/”]Postpartum nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, lactation consultants, and certified nurse midwives to provide care for newborns. They also educate parents about newborn care, provide breastfeeding support, perform newborn assessments, and monitor vital signs.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $108,896 according to ZipRecruiter
• How to Become: Postpartum nurses need at least an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), which employers typically prefer. They also need a registered nurse (RN) license before getting the postpartum nursing experience required for certification.
• Certifications: Maternal newborn nursing (RNC-MNN) or electronic fetal monitoring certification
• Career Traits: Communication, teaching skills, stamina, empathy

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]2. Endocrinology Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become-a-pediatric-endocrinology-nurse/”]Pediatric endocrinology nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for children with endocrine conditions such as growth hormone deficiency, type 1 diabetes, tumors, and hormonal imbalances. They educate children and parents on how to manage chronic conditions and live healthy lifestyles. They work with other members of the healthcare team to examine children, create care plans, and give medication and other treatments.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $116,103 according to ZipRecruiter
• How to Become: Endocrinology nurses need an undergraduate nursing degree (BSN preferred), an RN license, and pediatric endocrinology nursing experience. Some may choose to become a certified diabetes educator.
• Certifications: Certified diabetes educator
• Career Traits: Communication, assessment skills, teamwork, empathy

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]3. Cardiac Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/cardiac-care-nurse/”]Cardiac nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with cardiologists, surgeons, and cardiac nurse practitioners to provide care to children with chronic heart conditions. They work with equipment such as defibrillators, catheters, and surgical equipment and provide advanced cardiac life support.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $88,650 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Cardiovascular_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Cardiac nurses need at least an ADN or BSN degree (preferred) and an RN license. They also need experience in critical care, medical-surgical, or cardiac nursing to get their cardiac vascular nursing certification.
• Certifications: Cardiac vascular nursing certification
• Career Traits: Communication, critical thinking, organization, teamwork

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]4. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-icu-nurse/”]Pediatric intensive care (PICU) nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with children who are critically ill or recovering from surgery and need more monitoring and nursing care than a child on the floor of the hospital. They evaluate patients’ conditions, report changes and complications to the nurse practitioner or physician, and operate complex medical equipment.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $78,339 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Critical_Care/Hourly_Rate/5a7c0bdc/Pediatric-Intensive-Care-Unit-PICU”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: PICU nurses need at least an ADN or BSN, an RN license, and experience in pediatric critical care nursing to earn their CCRN (Pediatric) certification.
• Certifications: CCRN (Pediatric)
• Career Traits: Communication, teamwork, attention to detail, stress management

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]5. Travel Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/travel-nurse/”]Travel nurses[/hen-ui-link] who specialize in pediatric nursing find temporary positions where they are most needed. These positions are usually in emergency or critical care units for newborns, infants, and children. They perform many of the same duties as staff nurses, but they change assignments every few weeks. Travel nurses with certifications such as CEN, CCRN (Neonatal), or CCRN (Pediatric) may find more job opportunities.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $81,010 as of December 2022 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Travel_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Travel nurses need at least an undergraduate nursing degree, an RN license, and two years of nursing experience before they can get certified. Travel nurses can increase their employment chances with experience and certification.
• Certifications: CCRN (Pediatric), CCRN (Neonatal), certified emergency nurse (CEN), maternal newborn nursing (RNC-MNN) or electronic fetal monitoring certifications, certified dialysis nurse
• Career Traits: Critical thinking, adaptability, teamwork, communication

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]6. Dialysis Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/dialysis-nurse/”]Dialysis nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with a team of healthcare professionals to give dialysis treatment to children with kidney disease or kidney failure. They manage children’s fluid and electrolyte balance, examine children before treatment, monitor them during treatment, and communicate with family members and other healthcare professionals.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $78,751 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Dialysis_Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Dialysis nurses need an ADN or BSN (preferred) and an RN license. They must have dialysis nursing experience to become certified in dialysis or nephrology.
• Certifications: Certified dialysis nurse or certified nephrology nurse
• Career Traits: Patience, communication, attention to detail, technical skills

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]7. Surgical Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/or-nurse/”]Surgical nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for children before, during, and after surgery. Surgical nurses prepare the operating room for surgery, alert the surgical team to any issues, assist the surgeon during surgery, help stabilize the child, and prepare the child for the recovery room. They may perform specific portions of these duties based on whether they are scrub nurses, circulating nurses, or registered nurse first assistants (RNFA).[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $79,035 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Operating_Room/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Surgical nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred), an RN license, and surgical nursing experience to become certified as a perioperative nurse.
• Certifications: Certified perioperative nurse (CNOR)
• Career Traits: Teamwork, stress management, attention to detail, adaptability

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]8. Oncology Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/oncology-nurse/”]Oncology nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for children who have cancer. They administer treatment, provide emotional support, and monitor the child’s progress with the treatment. Pediatric oncology nurses can choose to specialize further and become pediatric hematology oncology nurses who care for children with cancers of the blood, such as leukemia.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $79,895 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Oncology/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Oncology nurses need an undergraduate nursing degree and an RN license to practice. They also need RN and oncology nursing experience to pursue certification.
• Certifications: Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
• Career Traits: Empathy, communication, teamwork, stress management

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]9. Infection Control Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/infection-control-nurse/”]Infection control nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with other healthcare professionals to prevent infectious diseases in children and infants, including RSV, COVID-19, and the flu. They educate the public, patients, and other healthcare professionals about these diseases and how to prevent them. They may also care for children with infectious diseases.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $76,940 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Infection_Control/Salary”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Infection control nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred) and an RN license before getting infection control nursing experience and pursuing certification.
• Certifications: Certified infection control (CIC)
• Career Traits: Communication, leadership, teamwork, attention to detail

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]10. Pediatric Case Manager[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-case-management/”]Nurse case managers[/hen-ui-link] create care plans for children in their care. They coordinate their patients’ care, monitor their progress, and communicate updates to parents and other members of the healthcare team.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $76,691 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Case_Manager/Salary”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Pediatric case managers need at least an undergraduate degree, an RN license, and nursing case management experience to become certified in the field.
• Certifications: Nursing case management certification
• Career Traits: Communication, empathy, organization, teamwork

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]11. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses working in the [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/pacu-nurse/how-to-become/”]post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)[/hen-ui-link] care for children coming out of anesthesia. They monitor children, treat the after-effects of anesthesia, and educate parents about their child’s care plan.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $78,679 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate/2b242d75/Recovery-Post-Anesthesia-Care-Unit-PACU”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: PACU nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred) and an RN license. After gaining RN and PACU experience, they can pursue post-anesthesia or ambulatory perianesthesia certification.
• Certifications: Certified post-anesthesia nurse (CPAN) or certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurse (CAPA)
• Career Traits: Communication, empathy, attention to detail, patience

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]12. Critical Care Transport Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/critical-care-transport-nurse/”]Critical care transport nurses[/hen-ui-link] transport children between healthcare settings. Transport nurses may care for children who are critically ill and in need of emergency medical care or who may be stable and in need of monitoring between healthcare settings. Transport nurses’ duties vary depending on the condition of the child they are transporting. They may collect vital signs, give medications, and perform advanced life support.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $82,787 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Critical_Care_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Critical care transport nurses need at least an undergraduate nursing degree, an RN license, and experience in the field before they can get their certification.
• Certifications: CCRN (Pediatric)
• Career Traits: Adaptability, teamwork, decision making, critical thinking

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]13. Emergency Room Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/er-nurse/”]emergency room nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for children who come into the emergency room for many conditions. These conditions may include choking, poisoning, high fever, allergic reactions, car accidents, and chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma. Pediatric emergency room nurses communicate with parents and healthcare providers, take vital signs, observe changes in the children, and perform triage.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $75,188 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Emergency_Room/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Emergency nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred) and an RN license Then, they can get the required experience to pursue certification.
• Certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Career Traits: Empathy, adaptability, stamina, quick thinking

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]14. Neuroscience Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/neuroscience-nurse/#career-overview”]Neuroscience nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with a team of healthcare professionals to care for children who have neurological conditions. These nurses care for children with conditions such as migraines, head injuries, brain cancer, and seizure disorders. Work settings, conditions cared for, and responsibilities for neuroscience nurses vary based on whether they work with neurologists or neurosurgeons.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $75,002 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Neurology_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Neuroscience nurses need at least an undergraduate degree in nursing, an RN license, and neuroscience nursing experience. They can become certified as a neuroscience registered nurse or a stroke certified registered nurse.
• Certifications: Certified neuroscience registered nurse (CNRN) and Stroke certified registered nurse (SCRN)
• Career Traits: Assessment skills, adaptability, hardworking, stress management

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]15. Forensic Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/forensic-nurse/”]Forensic nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with children who have been abused mentally, physically, and sexually. They advocate for the children, take notes on their condition, gather evidence for the prosecution, work with law enforcement to testify in court, and provide emotional support for children and their families.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $73,290 according to ZipRecruiter
• How to Become: Forensic nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred), an RN license, and forensic nursing experience. They can pursue certification as a sexual assault nurse examiner or in advanced forensic nursing.
• Certifications: Sexual assault nurse examiner or Advanced forensic nursing
• Career Traits: Empathy, communication, critical thinking, ability to deal with trauma

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]16. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/neonatal-nurse/”]Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for premature newborns, older premature babies, newborns recovering from surgery in their first days of life, or newborns who have other birth complications such as fetal alcohol exposure. These nurses check oxygen levels, record vital signs, measure fluid intake and waste output, and provide daily infant care.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $73,316 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Neonatal_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: NICU nurses need an ADN or BSN (preferred), and an RN license. After gaining experience as an RN and in neonatal nursing, they can earn their neonatal resuscitation or CCRN (Neonatal) certification.
• Certifications: Neonatal resuscitation certification and CCRN (Neonatal)
• Career Traits: Communication, observation and assessment skills, teamwork, empathy

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]17. Rehabilitation Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/rehabilitation-nurse/”]Rehabilitation nurses[/hen-ui-link] help children with chronic illness and injury gain as much independence as possible. They educate children and their families about diseases and disabilities, create care plans and goals for the children, work with children to improve their mobility, and advocate for children at the individual and public policy levels.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $72,202 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate/0900c6b7/Rehabilitation”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Rehabilitation nurses need an undergraduate nursing degree, an RN license, and experience in rehabilitation nursing before pursuing certification.
• Certifications: Certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN)
• Career Traits: Teamwork, leadership, research, teaching skills

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]18. Palliative Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/palliative-care-nurse/”]Palliative care nurses[/hen-ui-link] provide end-of-life care for critically and terminally ill children. They give medication, monitor pain and offer pain management, educate parents and family members about the child’s condition, and offer advice and emotional support.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $70,919 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Hospice_Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Palliative care nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred), an RN license, and experience in the field. Then, they can earn their hospice and palliative nurse certification.
• Certifications: Certified hospice and palliative nurse (CHPN)
• Career Traits: Stamina, teamwork, empathy, stress management

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]19. Respiratory Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/respiratory-nurse/”]Respiratory nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with children experiencing breathing problems such as asthma. Some respiratory nurses work in the NICU. They take patient histories, perform respiratory procedures to help children’s breathing, educate children and parents on breathing exercises, and operate breathing tubes and ventilators.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $70,453 (for all RNs) as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Respiratory nurses need at least an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, which employers typically prefer. These nurses also need an RN license before they can get respiratory nursing experience and earn certifications.
• Certifications: CCRN (Pediatric) or CCRN (Neonatal)
• Career Traits: Communication, teamwork, attention to detail, problem-solving

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]20. Psychiatric Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/psychiatric-nurse/”]Psychiatric nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with a team of healthcare professionals to provide children with mental health services in community health or one-to-one settings. Their responsibilities may differ depending on where they work. They help develop care plans, perform diagnostic testing, give treatments, and educate family members.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $70,289 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Psychiatric_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Psychiatric nurses need at least an associate degree in nursing or bachelor’s of science in nursing, which employers often prefer. They also need an RN license. Then, they can get the experience in mental health or psychiatric nursing required to pursue certification.
• Certifications: Psychiatric-mental health nursing certification
• Career Traits: Communication, assessment skills, empathy, problem-solving

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]21. Labor and Delivery Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/labor-and-delivery-nurse/”]Labor and delivery nurses[/hen-ui-link] provide the initial nursing care for babies after they are born under the supervision of physicians or nurse practitioners. Labor and delivery nurses also educate parents on newborn care before postpartum nursing takes over the care of the patient and their baby.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $70,159 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Labor_And_Delivery_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Labor and delivery nurses need at least an undergraduate nursing degree and an RN license before getting the obstetrics nursing experience to become certified.
• Certifications: Inpatient obstetric nursing, Electronic fetal monitoring, and Low-risk neonatal intensive care nursing
• Career Traits: Empathy, communication, quick thinking, teamwork

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]22. Home Health Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/home-healthcare-nurse//”]Home health nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for children, who are disabled, recently released from the hospital, or in hospice, within their homes. They work with physicians and nurse practitioners to provide these children with nursing care. They monitor vital signs, give medications and treatments, bandage and clean wounds, and educate family members.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $68,697 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Home_Health_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Home health nurses need at least an ADN or BSN, an RN license, and medical-surgical and critical care nursing experience before pursuing relevant certifications.
• Certifications: Certified wound, ostomy, and continence Nurse and Pain management nursing Certification
• Career Traits: Communication, empathy, adaptability, decision making

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]23. Developmental Disability Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/developmental-disability-nurse/”]Developmental disability nurses[/hen-ui-link] receive special training to assist children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These nurses may help children with skills related to motor, communication, or nutritional needs. They also advocate for their patients, educate parents and other family members, and collaborate with the other members of the healthcare team to provide the best care.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $62,463 according to ZipRecruiter
• How to Become: Developmental disability nurses need at least an ADN or BSN (preferred) and an RN license. They will also need nursing experience to earn their intellectual and developmental disabilities nursing certification.
• Certifications: Intellectual and developmental disabilities nursing certification
• Career Traits: Empathy, compassion, patience, non-verbal and verbal communication skills

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-800″]24. Ambulatory Care[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/ambulatory-care-nurse/”]Ambulatory care nurses[/hen-ui-link] care for infants and children in outpatient settings. They complete examinations, give vaccinations, take medical histories, and comfort children. They work with other healthcare professionals to provide safe and quality care. They educate children and their parents about diagnoses, treatment plans, and healthy living.[/hen-ui-text]

• Average Annual Salary: $70,580 as of January 2023 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Ambulatory_Registered_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link]
• How to Become: Ambulatory care nurses need at least an undergraduate nursing degree and an RN license before getting ambulatory care experience to pursue certification.
• Certifications: Ambulatory care nursing certification
• Career Traits: Communication, empathy, attention to detail, stamina

[/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What types of nurses are the happiest?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The happiest nurses may work in specialties that are less demanding and have lower rates of anxiety and [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nurse-burnout/”]burnout[/hen-ui-link]. Postpartum nurses, school nurses, PACU nurses, and outpatient surgical nurses are a few of the types of pediatric nurses that have [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/low-anxiety-nursing-jobs/”]less stressful nursing roles[/hen-ui-link]. However, happiness is a subjective experience and differs for each person.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How hard is pediatric nursing?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nursing can be difficult because it requires nurses to have attention to detail, adaptability, good communication, and strong collaboration with children, families, and other healthcare providers. Nurses also have to be empathetic to children and their families going through emotionally and physically challenging situations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What are the different types of pediatric nurses?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses can specialize in many different types of nursing, such as pediatric nursing case management, pediatric palliative care nursing, pediatric ambulatory care nursing, pediatric psychiatric nursing, and pediatric travel nursing.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is the highest salary for a pediatric registered nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric endocrinology nurses make the highest average annual salary among all pediatric nurses. Pediatric endocrinology nurses make an average of $116,103 annually as of January 2023, according to ZipRecruiter. Postpartum nurses who care for patients who have just given birth and their babies make an average annual salary of $108,896 annually.[/hen-ui-text]