I am a sophomore in high school and I want to become a pediatric nurse what courses and other things should I be doing to prepare myself for college and the actual job? Please and thank you.

Hi Alyssa,

You don't have to wait for college to begin your education because there are many high school classes that can help you prepare for this rewarding career:

Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy and physiology is a high school class most students take for college credit. Anatomy and physiology is an advanced science course that students should take who plan on earning a college degree in health sciences, biological sciences or if they plan on entering the nursing field. Future pediatric nurses who take anatomy and physiology in high school may benefit from an early start in a nursing program by learning advanced human sciences.

Psychology

• Not all high schools offer a course in psychology, but if yours is one of them, take it. These classes are typically AP courses that count for college credits. One of the many subjects an introduction to psychology course teaches is child cognitive growth and development. Pediatric nurses care for children who range in age and who have a variety of illnesses, including some that are life threatening. Understanding how a child's mind develops and how a child responds to a number of situations will help any pediatric nurse become a better caregiver.

Health

• High school health class is essential for any student who wants to become a pediatric nurse. Health class teaches how to care for the body, effective communication and how to be a positive contribution to the family. The class also teaches students how to respond to emergencies, eat healthy diets and understand life cycle stages. It is important for any aspiring nurse to have this knowledge before attending nursing school because it provides a foundation for further learning in health care.

English

• You don't have to be well versed in children's literature to be a good pediatric nurse, but having the ability to write fluently and clearly will help you perform your role as one. Nurses are responsible for writing charts, communicating via writing with the charge nurse and sending written reports to doctors regarding their patient's status and well-being. High school English classes teach students how to properly structure a writing piece and how to write clearly, and they help to increase a student's vocabulary -- skills a pediatric nurse should have to be an effective communicator.

Source: http://education.seattlepi.com/recommended-high-school-classes-become-pediatric-nurse-2851.html

Have a great career!!!

It would be a great idea to get a part time job in a hospital, hopefully on a pediatric floor as a Nurses Aid/Patient Care Tech (different hospitals have different names for this job but it is the same thing) and that way you have an excellent way to decide if working in a hospital with children is what you wish to do. Working in a hospital is by far the best thing you can do to decide if working in a hospital is something you would like to do in my opinion because most people have no idea what it is like to work in a hospital until they do it themselves