According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, less than ten percent of nurse practitioners are currently specializing in paediatrics. If you’re currently studying for your bachelor’s degree in nursing and want to continue on to graduate as a nurse practitioner, then you may have considered specializing in paediatrics. According to Discover Nursing, nurse practitioners can work alongside paediatricians and other nursing professionals in hospitals and medical centres, however, there is also the option to start a private clinic of your own. If you’re considering becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, here are some of the main qualities needed for the role.

#1. A Way with Kids:

If you have a way with children and always seem to be better than most when it comes to communicating with little ones, then this will certainly put you in good standing for a pediatric nurse practitioner role. Since pediatric nurse practitioners tend to care for children ranging from infants up to around sixteen years of age, a natural rapport with children and teenagers is often one of the most important reasons for pursuing this career. If you have a knack for making anything fun for little ones and are sure that you could transfer this skill over to a hospital setting, then this job could be perfect for you.

#2. You’re Supportive and Caring:

Bear in mind that as a pediatric nurse practitioner, you won’t just be offering medical care to children. You’ll also be spending a lot of your time supporting concerned adult family members and being the reassuring presence in the room that everything is going to be OK. As a nurse practitioner, it’s important to keep adult relatives calm and positive about the situation, since children will often mimic the reactions of the adults close to them. For many nurse practitioners, this can be one of the most difficult parts of the job – but also the most rewarding.

#3. You Have an Excellent Bedside Manner:

Do you always know exactly what to say and do when your own children are sick, to make them feel better again and help with their recovery? Are you gentle, and understand the importance of the little things when it comes to making a child feel safe and secure in your care? If nothing is too much trouble for you when it comes to making other people feel better, then you might want to consider starting an online nursing degree and pursuing this career path.

#4. You Can Manage Your Time and Keep Up:

Finally, the demand for excellent pediatric nurse practitioners is on the rise, and because of this, choosing this career pathway can have many benefits for you, including less competition when it comes to finding employment, and better opportunities for progression within your career. However, it’s also worth bearing in mind that this is a fast-paced job which requires individuals that have exemplary time management skills and are able to keep up with the ever-changing demands.

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