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Hamilton, Ohio
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Are there any positions for the careers you are researching right out of high school? If not is there anything you could do as a job to get introduced to the field for Pediatric Nurses
Are there any positions for the careers you are researching right out of high school? If not is there anything you could do as a job to get introduced to the field for Pediatric Nurses
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2 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
372
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Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello,
Great question! For someone interested in becoming a pediatric nurse, there are a few entry-level positions available right out of high school that can provide valuable experience in the healthcare field. While becoming a pediatric nurse requires a nursing degree (either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)), there are several roles you can pursue to gain exposure to the field and start building relevant skills:
Entry-Level Positions Right Out of High School
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):
- A CNA works under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide basic patient care, such as bathing, feeding, and monitoring vital signs. To become a CNA, you need to complete a state-approved training program and pass a certification exam. Working as a CNA in a pediatric ward or clinic can provide direct experience with young patients and familiarize you with the nursing environment.
2. Patient Care Technician (PCT):
- Similar to a CNA, a PCT provides basic patient care but may also perform more advanced tasks like drawing blood and conducting EKGs. Some hospitals offer PCT training programs, or you can complete a certification course. Working in a pediatric setting as a PCT allows you to gain hands-on experience with pediatric patients.
3. Medical Assistant (MA):
- Medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, taking patient histories, and assisting with exams. Some positions may require a post-secondary certificate, but others provide on-the-job training. Working as a medical assistant in a pediatric clinic can help you learn more about pediatric care and medical procedures.
4. Phlebotomist:
- A phlebotomist is trained to draw blood from patients, including children. You can become a phlebotomist by completing a certification program. Working as a phlebotomist in a pediatric setting can help you become comfortable working with children in a healthcare environment.
5. Unit Secretary/Clerk:
- A unit secretary or clerk works in a hospital or clinic setting, performing administrative tasks such as managing patient records, scheduling, and coordinating communication. While this role does not involve direct patient care, it provides an opportunity to observe the healthcare environment, interact with nursing staff, and gain an understanding of hospital operations.
Gaining Experience and Exposure
- Volunteering: Many hospitals and pediatric clinics offer volunteer programs where you can assist with non-medical tasks, interact with patients, and observe healthcare professionals in action. This can help you gain exposure to the pediatric nursing environment and develop soft skills like communication and empathy.
- Shadowing: Reach out to local hospitals or pediatricians to see if you can shadow a pediatric nurse. This will give you a firsthand look at the daily responsibilities and challenges of the role.
- Healthcare-Related Certifications: In addition to CNA, PCT, or MA certifications, consider getting certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). These certifications are valuable for anyone working in pediatric care and show your commitment to the field.
- Part-Time Positions: Look for part-time positions in healthcare settings, such as pediatric clinics, schools, or community health centers, where you can start building relationships and gaining experience.
Pursuing these roles and opportunities can provide valuable experience and help you determine if a career in pediatric nursing is the right path for you. Additionally, gaining experience in a healthcare setting can strengthen your future nursing school applications and help you stand out when applying for nursing programs.
Best wishes!
Great question! For someone interested in becoming a pediatric nurse, there are a few entry-level positions available right out of high school that can provide valuable experience in the healthcare field. While becoming a pediatric nurse requires a nursing degree (either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)), there are several roles you can pursue to gain exposure to the field and start building relevant skills:
Entry-Level Positions Right Out of High School
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):
- A CNA works under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide basic patient care, such as bathing, feeding, and monitoring vital signs. To become a CNA, you need to complete a state-approved training program and pass a certification exam. Working as a CNA in a pediatric ward or clinic can provide direct experience with young patients and familiarize you with the nursing environment.
2. Patient Care Technician (PCT):
- Similar to a CNA, a PCT provides basic patient care but may also perform more advanced tasks like drawing blood and conducting EKGs. Some hospitals offer PCT training programs, or you can complete a certification course. Working in a pediatric setting as a PCT allows you to gain hands-on experience with pediatric patients.
3. Medical Assistant (MA):
- Medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, taking patient histories, and assisting with exams. Some positions may require a post-secondary certificate, but others provide on-the-job training. Working as a medical assistant in a pediatric clinic can help you learn more about pediatric care and medical procedures.
4. Phlebotomist:
- A phlebotomist is trained to draw blood from patients, including children. You can become a phlebotomist by completing a certification program. Working as a phlebotomist in a pediatric setting can help you become comfortable working with children in a healthcare environment.
5. Unit Secretary/Clerk:
- A unit secretary or clerk works in a hospital or clinic setting, performing administrative tasks such as managing patient records, scheduling, and coordinating communication. While this role does not involve direct patient care, it provides an opportunity to observe the healthcare environment, interact with nursing staff, and gain an understanding of hospital operations.
Gaining Experience and Exposure
- Volunteering: Many hospitals and pediatric clinics offer volunteer programs where you can assist with non-medical tasks, interact with patients, and observe healthcare professionals in action. This can help you gain exposure to the pediatric nursing environment and develop soft skills like communication and empathy.
- Shadowing: Reach out to local hospitals or pediatricians to see if you can shadow a pediatric nurse. This will give you a firsthand look at the daily responsibilities and challenges of the role.
- Healthcare-Related Certifications: In addition to CNA, PCT, or MA certifications, consider getting certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). These certifications are valuable for anyone working in pediatric care and show your commitment to the field.
- Part-Time Positions: Look for part-time positions in healthcare settings, such as pediatric clinics, schools, or community health centers, where you can start building relationships and gaining experience.
Pursuing these roles and opportunities can provide valuable experience and help you determine if a career in pediatric nursing is the right path for you. Additionally, gaining experience in a healthcare setting can strengthen your future nursing school applications and help you stand out when applying for nursing programs.
Best wishes!
Can you give me some detail of what it is like to be a nurse because I would like to know what it is like
kaelyn
Can you please ask this in the question section?
Chinyere Okafor
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1737
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Student !
In order to become a pediatric nurse, you would need to become a nurse and that means going to Nursing School. I am curious as to why, if you do not know what a nurse does or is like, why you'd want to become one. This is a good time to find out what it's all about so you can decide.
To become a Pediatric Nurse in your state of Ohio, you would obtain a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Nursing. You would then obtain your license, work as a nurse and then obtain pediatric nursing certification. This is the path you would take in your state of Ohio.
You have also asked in a comment on here for details about what it is like being a nurse because you want to know. I am not a nurse but have known many of them and one nurse's career is very different from another nurse's career. You can't generalize what the career would be like. Most people go into it because they truly care about others and are drawn to helping injured or sick people. Sometimes Nurses work in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and sometimes they work in a doctors' office or as a private nurse or in elementary or high schools. They can work in clinics.
Most Nurses that I know that work in hospitals and nursing homes have a team meeting every day (on the day shift at least) so that they can discuss patients, the care each is giving to the patient, changes in care, and any facility business that everyone needs to know about. You can develop your public speaking and writing skills, too, while you are in high school as you will be doing a lot of writing in patient charts as well as participating in meetings and presenting information to your colleagues.
You will be around sick and injured people, so you will need a high tolerance of dealing with the sights, sounds and odors that are involved. In Nursing School, you will learn how to be unreactive and make the patient feel comfortable no matter what the illness or injury involves. A strong sense of compassion, patience and the ability to understand various cultures and age groups will be necessary as you will work with patients of all different backgrounds, different medical histories as well as special circumstances so being able to be adaptable and knowing how to handle spontaneous things that happen will help you greatly as a nurse. You would learn everything you need to know when you are in college and Nursing School.
To get an idea, just a picture of what it is like to be a nurse (but not exactly how your career would be) you can watch television shows that are set in a hospital. You can also go to You Tube and search for videos of people talking about what it is like in Nursing School and what it is like being a Pediatric Nurse or general nurse. There are definitely ways that you can easily get an idea of what this career may be like. You will have your own individual experience being a Nurse, so find out about the education first and see if that is a path you're driven to take.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best discovering this wonderful career !
In order to become a pediatric nurse, you would need to become a nurse and that means going to Nursing School. I am curious as to why, if you do not know what a nurse does or is like, why you'd want to become one. This is a good time to find out what it's all about so you can decide.
To become a Pediatric Nurse in your state of Ohio, you would obtain a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Nursing. You would then obtain your license, work as a nurse and then obtain pediatric nursing certification. This is the path you would take in your state of Ohio.
You have also asked in a comment on here for details about what it is like being a nurse because you want to know. I am not a nurse but have known many of them and one nurse's career is very different from another nurse's career. You can't generalize what the career would be like. Most people go into it because they truly care about others and are drawn to helping injured or sick people. Sometimes Nurses work in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and sometimes they work in a doctors' office or as a private nurse or in elementary or high schools. They can work in clinics.
Most Nurses that I know that work in hospitals and nursing homes have a team meeting every day (on the day shift at least) so that they can discuss patients, the care each is giving to the patient, changes in care, and any facility business that everyone needs to know about. You can develop your public speaking and writing skills, too, while you are in high school as you will be doing a lot of writing in patient charts as well as participating in meetings and presenting information to your colleagues.
You will be around sick and injured people, so you will need a high tolerance of dealing with the sights, sounds and odors that are involved. In Nursing School, you will learn how to be unreactive and make the patient feel comfortable no matter what the illness or injury involves. A strong sense of compassion, patience and the ability to understand various cultures and age groups will be necessary as you will work with patients of all different backgrounds, different medical histories as well as special circumstances so being able to be adaptable and knowing how to handle spontaneous things that happen will help you greatly as a nurse. You would learn everything you need to know when you are in college and Nursing School.
To get an idea, just a picture of what it is like to be a nurse (but not exactly how your career would be) you can watch television shows that are set in a hospital. You can also go to You Tube and search for videos of people talking about what it is like in Nursing School and what it is like being a Pediatric Nurse or general nurse. There are definitely ways that you can easily get an idea of what this career may be like. You will have your own individual experience being a Nurse, so find out about the education first and see if that is a path you're driven to take.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best discovering this wonderful career !