Why Pediatric Nurses are Everyday Heroes in Child Care

Introduction

As a kid, you’ve likely gone to the doctor’s office and had your height and weight checked, asked to walk on your tippy-toes, and received questions on school and how you’ve been liking it. Pediatric nurses hold an important place in our childhood memories, as they helped us grow and mature into the people we are now! With all they do for us and our community, it’s important to understand their work in the medical field and just how much they sacrifice just so we can live a healthy and happy childhood.

What is Pediatrics?

An article written by Dr. Anaya Mandal, MD, titled “What is Pediatrics, " reports that pediatrics is ‘the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents  from birth up to age 18.’ The article further mentions how pediatrics aims to reduce the deaths of infants and children, control the spread of infectious disease, and successfully encourage parents and their children to live healthy lifestyles to live a disease-free life. Pediatricians have the responsibility to ensure the care of their patients, whether they are a toddler with a cold or an infant with heart conditions.

Fun fact: Abraham Jacobi is known as the father of pediatrics! (Science Direct)

The Different Kinds of Pediatric Nurses

As an article posted on website “Healthline” and medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D, MSN reports: “Nurses are categorized by a variety of factors.” These factors were additionally discussed and include:

• Level of education 

• Medical speciality 

• Community

• Type of facility  

If you had not known already, there are many occupations within the pediatric and nursing field! The article helpfully reports on this as well, mentioning that the following careers are all amazing ways to work in the medical field and serve the youth! 

• Pediatric Registered Nurse (RN)

• NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Nurse

• Labor and Delivery Nurse

• PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) Nurse

• Lactation Consultant 

• Certified Nurse Midwife 

Fun fact: According to an article posted by Penn Nursing, pediatrics has been around since the 1800s!

The Main Responsibilities of Pediatric Nurses 

Just like any career within the medical field, pediatric nurses hold many responsibilities! In fact, the Arizona College of Nursing reports that pediatric nurses deal with a range of work throughout their shifts, whether it be a common cold or life-threatening illnesses. The article further writes how routine health care check-ups are a common activity for pediatric nurses. During these routine check-ups, nurses would be found administering vaccinations, performing routine developmental screenings, caring for ill children, whether accurately, chronically, or critically, and educating both parents and children on the promotion of the child’s health and how to care for the child when they fall ill.

Of course, however, pediatric nurses hold much more than routine check-ups on their plates! Other responsibilities of theirs include being a source of emotional support during tough times for parents and children, conducting examinations of patients and providing updates on their personal medical histories, and monitoring their patients during their shifts for responses towards their treatment and changes in their vital signs, as stated by the North Carolina Central University Blog. To further add, an article published in September 2024 by the Health Council Carousel discusses several essential skills that pediatric nurses must equip themselves with to thrive in their workplace and properly administer to their patients. Some of these mentioned skills include:

• Strong communication skills 

• Emotional intelligence and capacity 

• Attention to detail for safety precautions

• Ability to cope with traumatic situations 

• Passion towards making a difference for children 

Ways to Show Support to Your Pediatric Nurses

Showing support towards your nurses doesn’t need to be difficult! Simply telling them your appreciation and gratitude towards their work and craft can do so much! Next time you visit your doctor, tell your nurse how much you appreciate all they do and that their efforts don’t go unseen. It would mean more than you know to them. This advice goes towards all medical personnel, because they are all hardworking, passionate people who deserve the acknowledgment and praise from their patients.

Final Thoughts

Again, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you guys enjoyed this one. Nursing is such an awesome career in the healthcare field, and this was so fun to write. I hope to see you all in future blog posts. 

Written by Gabrielle B and researched by Keegan W

2025 The HEAL Project