How to Train for a Pediatric Nurse
If you love infants and children, and want to spend your career enhancing their lives, then you may want to train to become a pediatric nurse. This type of nurse works with infants and children in a variety of different settings from helping care for them when they are sick to providing them well check-ups to ensure that they stay healthy and are developing correctly.
- Attend a college or university that offers nursing degrees. You will need to first complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing before you are eligible to become a pediatric nurse. Make sure that the program that you attend is accredited by the state where it is located.
- Take the nursing exam, which is called the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) in order to become a registered nurse. There may be other tests required to obtain an RN license, so it is important to check with the state where you live to determine its qualifications.
- Complete a pediatric intern program at a local hospital or medical facility. Most states require that a pediatric nurse complete 1800 hours of internship over a 2-year period before becoming eligible to be a pediatric nurse.
- Study for the certified pediatric nurse test. This test must be passed in order to obtain a pediatric nursing license.
- Take the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) test and pass it. This is the final step to obtaining a pediatric nursing license.
- Look for work in the field at local hospitals and medical facilities that are in need of a pediatric nurse. Search online job postings and local want ads to find a position in the area where you live.