[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Working as a pediatric nurse means you can change a child’s entire life by providing care for them and by educating the family. Learn about the rewards and challenges of this demanding but fulfilling career from active pediatric nurse practitioners (NPs).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Choose a Career in Pediatric Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Choosing pediatric nursing as a career is often a personal decision. Lisa Rinsdale, a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner, discovered pediatric nursing was her calling when she became a mother. She wanted to provide families with the same care that she and her family had received.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”I gained a great deal of knowledge at their wellness visits, and I could see myself in that role,” says Rinsdale, DNP, PPCNP-BC.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Melanie Wilhelm, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, was inspired by her own daughter’s experience with severe asthma. This experience motivated her to help families raise happy, healthy children. Wilhelm also finds a special joy in treating children specifically.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”It is truly a gift to work with children,” says Wilhelm, DNP, CPNP. “Their innocence and candor are refreshing.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What’s It Like for Pediatric Nurses Working With Children?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Communicating with children is similar to communicating with adults, Rinsdale notes, but a different approach is necessary. With most adults it is easy to give them information and calm their fears. With children, you have to gain their trust.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Working with children can be fun, but it can also be a team effort since you are essentially treating a family,” Rinsdale explains. “Understanding, caring, and patience are probably the most important traits in being a pediatric healthcare provider. Children can be scared of the unknown or experiencing pain.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Wilhelm also emphasizes the importance of building trust with the entire family. “You must be patient, gentle, and kind to work in the field of pediatrics,” Wilhelm adds. “It is important to be honest and trustworthy to build relationships with families as you provide healthcare for their children.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Challenges of Pediatric Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It can be frustrating for a pediatric nurse to communicate with children, especially with very young children who can’t understand what is happening. Children can struggle to describe their symptoms or understand that an uncomfortable treatment is going to help them.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”One challenging aspect of working as a pediatric NP is working with families that have a lot of social needs, whether that be due to poverty, a lack of education, or not receiving mental health intervention. It can be challenging to provide care that is equal when the family has access to fewer resources,” Rinsdale notes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Also, as legally [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//understanding-nurses-role-as-a-mandated-reporter/”]mandated reporters[/hen-ui-link], pediatric nurses must report potential child abuse, which can take a tremendous emotional toll.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Rewards of Pediatric Nursing[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A pediatric nurse also provides health education that will benefit a child throughout their life. “It is most rewarding to watch a child that you have cared for since infancy grow up and become an amazing adult,” Wilhelm says.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Rinsdale shares what it is like as a pediatric nurse to see her patients recover. “Sick children tend to bounce back very quickly with evidence-based care,” she says. “Seeing improvement and a smile from a child that could not smile a couple of days ago due to acute illness is my best reward.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Pediatric Nurses and Nurse-Parent Relationships[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A pediatric nurse practitioner or pediatric nurse needs to build trust with parents/guardians and the child.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Caring for children over their lifespan from birth to 21 years old allows you to develop true relationships with families,” Wilhelm says. “It is a great honor to be trusted within these relationships. The trust you build goes a long way in providing exceptional healthcare for families.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Rinsdale stresses the importance of being a good listener and communicator. “I view myself as a team member and teacher. I am there to listen to the parents who know their child best and then intersect that information with the knowledge that I have of pediatrics.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributors[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Lisa Rinsdale, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CNE, JD” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1626210817/experts/Lisa_Rinsdale.jpg” img-alt=”Lisa Rinsdale, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CNE, JD” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/faculty/lisa-rinsdale” target=”_blank”]Lisa Rinsdale, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CNE, JD[/hen-ui-link], is a faculty member in Walden University’s Master of Science in Nursing program and a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner. Her nursing interests include pediatrics, genetics, evidence-based practice, and health policy.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Melanie Wilhelm, DNP, CPNP” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1626211368/experts/Melanie_Wilhelm.jpg” img-alt=”Melanie Wilhelm, DNP, CPNP” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/faculty/melanie-wilhelm” target=”_blank”]Melanie Wilhelm[/hen-ui-link], DNP, CPNP, is a faculty member in Walden University’s Master of Science in Nursing program and has 35 years of experience in pediatric nursing. She is board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Wilhelm is licensed in both Virginia and Minnesota as a [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]registered nurse[/hen-ui-link] and a certified pediatric nurse practitioner.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Educational and Career Resources for Pediatric Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become/”]How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/salary/”]Pediatric Nursing Salary Guide[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pediatric-nurse/”]Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Career Overview[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/articles/what-to-know-about-working-as-a-pediatric-nurse/”]Best Pediatric NP Programs 2021[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]