Children's Nurse
What is the work like?
Children's nurses, also known as paediatric nurses, provide care to children and young people (under the age of 18) with a range of conditions often linked to acute or long-term health problems.
Children are not always able to fully communicate how they are feeling, so nurses use their observational skills and knowledge of child development to interpret a child's behaviour and identify when their health has deteriorated.
As a children's nurse, your duties would usually include:
- working with doctors to assess the needs of ill, injured or disabled children
- deciding on the level of nursing care required, taking into account the child’s circumstances
- work closely with parents and carers to minimise stress and other effects connected with being ill and staying in hospital
- teaching parents or carers the skills they need to continue treatment with the child when they return home.
The practical nursing care you give could include:
- checking temperatures
- measuring blood pressure and respiration rates
- assisting doctors with physical examinations
- giving drugs and injections
- cleaning and dressing wounds
- administering blood transfusions and drips
- using hi-tech medical equipment.
You would work closely with other professionals including healthcare assistants, doctors, social workers and hospital play specialists.
As a qualified and experienced children's nurse, you could go on to specialise in an area such as burns and plastics, child protection, cancer care, neonatal nursing or intensive care.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To work as a children's nurse, you need a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved degree or Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing (child branch).
To get on to an NMC approved course, you need to:
- provide evidence of your literacy and numeracy skills, good health, good character and recent successful study experience
- meet the minimum age requirement for nurse training – 17.5 years old in England
- have a CRB check.
Course providers can also set their own academic entry requirements, which can include:
- nursing diploma – five GCSEs (A-C) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject
- nursing degree – the same GCSE grades as the diploma, plus two or three A levels, possibly including a biological science.
Some institutions offer Advanced Diplomas in Children's Nursing. This qualification and the entry requirements for it lie between diploma and degree level.
Check with universities for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted. You apply for nursing courses (diploma or degree) through UCAS.
You could have an advantage if you also have some relevant paid or voluntary experience. Contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust for further advice.
Alternative entry routes:
You could prepare for a nursing course by doing a two-year Cadet Scheme or Apprenticeship. Schemes vary between NHS Trusts, but will usually combine clinical placements with working towards an NVQ 3 in Health. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. You could also contact your local NHS Trust for details of cadet schemes in your area.
If you are a healthcare assistant with an NVQ Level 3 in Health, you may be able to apply for a secondment to nurse training. You would receive a salary whilst you study and, once you have qualified, you would usually be expected to return to work for that NHS Trust for around two years.
If you already have a degree in a subject related to health or nursing, you could qualify by taking a fast-track two-year postgraduate course. You will find a list of NMC approved programmes in the Education section of the NMC website.
You may need to complete the Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP) before you begin work if you trained as a nurse outside the UK and EEA. For more details contact the NMC.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are on a nurse training programme you will divide your time between university or college, and supervised placements in local hospitals and the community. Courses usually take three years full-time to complete.
During the first year you will follow the Common Foundation Programme. This will include:
- an introduction to the four branches of nursing and maternity care
- developing observational, communication and caring skills
- studying anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology, social policy
- learning core practical nursing skills.
For the remaining two years of training, you will specialise in the children's branch of nursing and study the development and care of children who are healthy as well as sick. You will also spend around 50% of the course in relevant clinical placements in a variety of settings.
Funding – nursing diploma and degree courses attract a non-repayable bursary to cover living expenses. Bursaries for a diploma (or Advanced Diploma) are non-means tested; bursaries for the degree are means-tested. Course fees are also usually paid. Check the NHS Student Bursaries website for details.
Professional registration – as a qualified nurse you must renew your professional registration with the NMC every three years. To re-register you need to have worked a minimum of 450 hours and completed at least 35 hours' professional development every three years. Check with the NMC for details.
To specialise in community child nursing you need to complete further training after registration; this usually takes around 30 weeks. You can also go on to qualify as a health visitor or school nurse; check the relevant job profiles for details.
Return to practice – if you are a former registered nurse wishing to return to the profession, you can take a return-to-practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK; contact your local NHS Trust for details.
Where can I go for more information?
School of NursingShore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Nurses can earn between £20,200 and £26,200 a year.
- Nurse team leaders can earn up to £32,600.
- Team managers can earn £38,300.
- Nurse consultants can earn up to £64,100.
Extra allowances may be paid to those living in or around London.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would typically work 37.5 hours a week, which can include evenings, weekends, night shifts and bank holidays. Many hospitals offer flexible hours or part-time work. Extra hours may also be available.
You could work in a special children’s hospital or hospice, on children’s wards in general hospitals, or (after further training) in paediatric intensive care. You could also work in the community, within a GP practice or child health clinic.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a genuine interest in helping and caring for children
- good observational skills
- the ability to make decisions and act quickly when you notice changes in patients' health
- the ability to comfort, reassure and gain the trust of patients
- excellent communication and listening skills
- an awareness of the variety of techniques that can be used to communicate with children, such as play
- the authority and confidence to deal with children or parents in stressful circumstances
- the ability to teach parents or carers basic nursing skills
- physical and mental stamina
- good organisational and time management skills
- the ability to remain calm under pressure
- a mature, compassionate and sensitive manner.
What opportunities are there?
You will find most jobs within the NHS, however, you can also work in the private sector and in schools.
With experience you could progress to sister, ward manager or team leader with responsibility for running a ward or a team of nurses in the community. You could go on to other management roles, such as a matron or director of nursing.
Another way to progress is to pursue a clinical specialism and gain promotion to nurse practitioner and nurse consultant. As a consultant, you would work directly and independently with patients, carry out research and develop and deliver training (you would usually need a Masters degree or PhD).
As a children's nurse, you could go on to train as a health visitor, neonatal or school nurse or practice nurse in a doctor's surgery. You could also become self-employed or work overseas.
With at least six months' experience as a qualified nurse, you could train in another branch (adult, learning disability or mental health) by completing a ‘second registration’ course. This will take around one year and you will usually need evidence of recent study and financial support from your employer.
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