How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Assistant
Working with sick children, informing and comforting parents, working in the community with children is a dream job for many people. A pediatric nursing assistant is not limited to the hospital ward. Many opportunities to care for sick children and teach healthy one how to stay that way.
- Earn your High School diploma or GED.
- Complete a CNA course offered by your local community college, convalescent hospital, acute hospital, or American Red Cross. Expect the course to take six to 12 weeks. Coursework will involve basic anatomy, hospital procedures, basic nursing skills, body mechanics, infection control and basic hospital procedure.
- Study for the CNA State certification test in your local area.
- Pass all drug screening.
- Obtain a CPR and First Aid card from the American Red Cross.
- Write a resume and cover letter with your new certifications.
- Look for work at a local hospital, school, community health department or other center that has children.
- Utilize the Internet, Monster.com has national listings of jobs. CNA jobs are in great demand.
- Opportunities for a Pediatric Nursing Assistant:
- Expect to earn around $12 per hour depending on where you are working.
- Though jobs are plentiful, advancement is dependent on education.
- Your job will be to support the doctor and nursing staff. The RN or LVN administers medication that the doctor prescribes, while the CNA cares for the personal needs of the patients. They feed, change diapers, hold crying babies, change soiled bedding, read to the children, take them to diagnostic tests. CNA's also assist in surgery and other hospital routines.