Becoming a nurse opens the door to some fantastic opportunities and pathways to finding your dream career. As you work your way through the nursing industry, you may find different branches of nursing that you would like to explore – such as becoming a paediatric nurse.

If a career in paediatric nursing appeals to you, read on for more information.

What is a paediatric nurse, and what does it involve?

A paediatric nurse is a registered nurse who specialises in caring for patients from birth through adolescence. Their knowledge is profound regarding child growth and development diseases and conditions, as children often present and are treated differently to adults.

Paediatric nurses work as part of a bigger team, but their role is a significant one. Although it differs based on the workplace, some typical roles and responsibilities paediatric nurses have include:

• Assessing, observing, and reporting on patient health status
• Working with patients to prepare for operations
• Taking pulse, temperature, and respiration, and keeping accurate records
• Administering IV drips and blood transfusions
• Maintaining and checking IV infusions
• Giving drugs, including injections
• Helping with diagnostic tests and evaluations
• Responding to emergencies
• Explaining treatment options and procedures to enable parents/carers
• Advising and educating patients and family
• Focusing on hygiene and safety rules and ensuring that visitors also observe these rules
• Preparing reports and updating records regularly

This list is by no means comprehensive and can change quickly. Paediatric nurse Kealey says, “A shift for me is never the same! Most nurses will agree that you never know what to expect when you walk into work. Some days will be an absolute breeze, and some days will leave you emotionally and physically exhausted.”

What are some of the challenges involved in paediatric nursing?

Like any frontline job, paediatric nursing comes with its own set of unique challenges. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a challenge I face on every shift as nursing comes with a lot of learning curves…but it’s all part of the job!” Kealey says. From complex patients to long shifts, let’s look at some challenges paediatric nurses face.

Difficult patients

Difficult patients are always a challenge – regardless of what area of nursing you’re working in. Whether it’s someone that’s aggressive or someone who doesn’t understand what you’re saying, there are challenges that stem from a variety of people. “It really depends on how you define difficult,” Kealey says. “For me, the patients I look after are ones that emotionally escalate quite fast. For those instances, I use a lot of de-escalation techniques. Whether that be simply sitting down and talking to them, offering them distractions such as fidget objects, offering for some of them to go for a walk around the ward to relax themselves, or even a phone call with mum and dad if they aren’t present on the ward at the time.”

Long hours

Long hours are almost a given when you work on the frontline. You might be rostered on for 8 hours but end up working 10. Other times, you may not get a chance to go to the bathroom or eat your lunch/dinner. The demanding and spontaneous nature of the job means that you need to prepare to put in the hard yards. Not only are the shifts long, but they are difficult. You’re on your feet most of the time, and the work can be quite physical. Ensuring you invest in quality footwear and scrubs means that you can carry out your shift as comfy as possible. It’s also vital that you undertake correct lifting techniques and wear all appropriate safety equipment to avoid long-term damage to your body.

Dealing with families

When it comes to paediatric nursing, you’re dealing primarily with the parents or caregivers. While the doctors generally give the bad news, paediatric nurses often must pick up the pieces. Kealey says, “Once the doctors leave, it’s important for us to offer as much support to the family as we can, whether that be sitting down with the family and allowing them to vent their feelings or just offering a shoulder to cry on when they need it. It can be quite overwhelming emotionally as a nurse to see patients and their families have their whole lives turned around. It’s also difficult as 9/10 times you can’t empathise with them because you’ll never quite understand how they’re feeling.”

Dealing with families is never easy. Take a deep breath and remember to always seek help if you need it.

Keeping your composure

Keeping your cool when facing awful situations is complex and can look different for everyone. “I’m fortunate to be on a ward where I have an absolutely incredible team who act as the best support network,” Kealey says. ”After a horrible event, we usually have multiple debrief sessions on the days and weeks following to ensure we are all coping. During these incidents, though, it can be tough to detach and keep your composure. However, I always practice deep breathing and focus on ensuring I’m providing the best care at that moment. Afterwards, I’ll always take myself off the ward for 5-10 minutes to a quiet space to have a glass of water and reflect. If I were to stay on the ward after a traumatic event, I wouldn’t give the care I know I’m capable of.”

If you are struggling with an incident at work and need further help, there are free counselling services out there:

AU: Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Suicide Call Back Service, Head to Health

NZ: Lifeline, Samaritans, Depression Helpline, Healthline

Tips for new paediatric nurses

Working as a paediatric nurse is exciting and can be a rewarding career path. Kealey has some advice for those who are new paediatric nurses or those who are considering this specialisation. “I’ve worked a lot of jobs in my life, been redeployed to many wards, worked in many different hospitals, and I’ve never felt more fulfilled than I do in paediatrics. No day is ever the same, you learn something new every day, and you meet some of the most beautiful, incredible families. It’s an absolute honour to play such a crucial part in what some of the hardest days of their lives to date could be. Even on a bad day, you’ll feel like you’ve done your job right. It can be daunting if you haven’t worked with children before, as the adult system is very different. However, once you get the hang of things, you’ll love every second of it!”

Are you starting out in a career as a paediatric nurse? Be sure to grab a pair of Biz Care scrubs from your closest distributor!