Pediatric nursing is a specialization of the nursing profession that focuses on the medical care of children. This is an important field because the health of children is different from that of adults due to the growth and development that occurs throughout childhood.
are in charge of the care of our littlest loved ones. These professionals must oversee a wide range of medical tasks and act as confidants, support systems, and communication specialists for worried families.
If this medical profession sounds like something you would like to get into, then here are some of the attributes required to become a successful pediatric nurse practitioner.
- A calm demeanour
A day in the life of a Pediatric Nurses includes monitors beeping, parents chatting, doctors’ screeching orders, siblings causing a ruckus, meal carts rattling through the halls, the din of a dozen TVs and video game consoles all beeping and buzzing at once. The children’s ward of a hospital is a loud place. Add a crisis into that mix and it’s easy to get tangled or anxious, but that anxiety can be transferred to pediatric patients remarkably swiftly.
Therefore, the nurse’s attitude can be an important and influential factor. The ideal trait of a pediatric nurse is the ability to not only stay calm during emergencies but also the ability to relay that calmness to the child and family.
- Positivity
In the same way that anxiety becomes epidemic, negativity is almost as infectious as a nasty virus. Studies show that psychological stress can block wound healing, and the same may be true for pediatric patients recovering from injuries or diseases.
Nurses who exude happiness (even in situations where positivity is difficult) could boost their patients’ well-being. Children quickly pick up on the emotions around them, so having a calm, composing, and positive presence in the pediatric nurse can aid tremendously when interacting with the patient.
- Getting along well with kids and Playfulness
Pediatric nurses need to get along well with kids. They need to have a natural affinity with their younger patients to make their treatment easier and be able to develop some clever techniques to help occupy or distract them and keep them calm. Even when children are sick, pediatric nurses can bring a little playfulness into their lives to help relax them. Fun distractions and a playful manner can help make children more at peace.
Being stuck in bed and wired to machines, no matter how life-saving those measures may be, just isn’t much fun. But meeting their idols or indulging in other bits of normalcy tells kids that there is still a world beyond medications and breathing treatments. Everyday acts of fun are just as special. Arguably two of the best nursing qualities a pediatric nurse can have are a sense of humor and a willingness to be playful. Tell a joke, sing a song, pull funny faces —as long as the patient is receptive and there’s still a careful balance between playtime and treatment, feel free to find your way to make someone smile.
- Attention to details
The Healthcare industry is detail-driven. This is especially true in pediatrics where even the slightest error in dosage can have an enormous impact. Studies have found a strong connection between how much nurses paid attention and their subsequent quality of care. Paying attention also helps pediatric nurses to understand patient preferences, identify care issues and health conditions, spot irregularities in patient behavior that could indicate status changes, and create a stronger, more meaningful connection with patients. Paying attention also fosters better morale among coworkers and team members and expedites more positive patient outcomes.
- Critical thinking skills
Since very young patients often can’t explain how they’re feeling, pediatric nurses, need to have excellent critical thinking skills. Kids may be scared or distracted, so it can be difficult to get definite answers to questions about their symptoms. A pediatric nurse must be able to get the information needed – including what they gather from the children’s families – despite the challenges. Gathering information from the families and adding that to the objective data discovered during assessment requires skill and intelligence. This is where a whole host of crucial nursing qualities come into play. It takes everything from patience and critical thinking to a calm demeanour to examine through the chatter and find those small facts that could lead to a diagnosis or more focused care.
- Patience
A nurse that flies off the handle when things don’t go according to plan is of no use to anyone. Working in pediatrics can be frustrating; kids don’t unveil how they’re feeling, parents are often sleep-deprived and irritable, and doctors rush in and out without always listening to what the rest of the medical team has to say. It takes experience and a composed mind to put together all the clues patients drop in a clinical setting, especially when those patients are children with underdeveloped communication skills. Pediatric patients are also more likely to be scared or distracted by their surroundings and situation, making it more difficult to get simple answers to vital questions. Patience isn’t easy to come by, but pediatric nurses who learn how to curb stress may be better able to keep their composure.
- Empathy
A pediatric nurse needs to be empathetic. A cold attitude isn’t appealing, even if you’re having a bad day. Being warm and sympathetic toward children and their families will help them be more comfortable with the nurse as well as with their situation
- Endurance
Nurses are known for working long hours. Working 12-hour shifts multiple days in a row may be the norm, but that doesn’t make it easy. Pediatric nurses are under additional pressure thanks to all the factors mentioned above. When tired feet and tired parents make the day seem even longer than it is, it’s helpful to be strong mentally and physically. It is more likely to become emotionally and mentally overwhelmed. Pediatric nurses must take care of themselves mentally and physically to do their best work for their patients and ensure their well-being.
When it comes to becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, these qualities are very important. This is because the main role of a pediatric nurse practitioner is to provide primary care for children, from birth all the way through to becoming a young adult. They need to have a huge range of experience and knowledge in pediatric primary health care, as well as child care plus the management and prevention of common pediatric acute illness and chronic conditions.
Nursing is a difficult profession, but it’s also immensely rewarding if you have what it takes to succeed. Whether these top nursing qualities come naturally or are something you need to develop over time, putting in the effort can only help your patients and your career.
