National Nurses Week, which occurred on May 6-12, gave us all a chance to offer our thanks to the passionate and dedicated healthcare workers that take care of us every time we step into a medical facility. This year we are honoring this important time by recognizing the incredible work that our pediatric nurses do every day to help you keep your child safe, healthy, and informed. So, let’s celebrate by diving into a big question: what does a pediatric nurse do in the normal course of their day? Keep reading to find out!
Assessments
When you think of a pediatric nurse, a friendly person in scrubs calling you into the office from the waiting room likely comes to mind. These nurses are often seen holding a file or clipboard and writing down information as your child is measured for height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. While nurses are in charge of taking down medical history and recording updates, they might also perform physical exams, blood draws, collect urine samples, and order additional diagnostic tests. While nurses are most commonly known for assessing changes in your child and reporting them for physician review, they also play a key role in several other aspects of your child’s health.
Communication
So, besides assessments, what does a pediatric nurse do? Experts in communicating with patients with a wide range of ages, nurses can make kids feel more comfortable in the new, confusing, and often even scary environment. Children of different ages all have varying levels of understanding concerning the medical process. Nurses respect the stage of life children are in by speaking with them in a way that suits their age, personality, and concerns. For example, nurses take care of the child afraid of needles, talk them through the process, and make them feel more comfortable.
Treatments
After doctors provide prevention tactics, diagnoses, or recommended treatments, nurses work with patients and their families on following through with the next steps. This means that nurses are often in charge of medications and direct care. This can include anything from walking parents through treatment plans to administering shots. From fearful tears all the way to cartooned band-aids, nurses are here for your child every step of the way.
Information
So, what does a pediatric nurse do to help parents? While caring for children is the first priority, our nurses also serve as advocates, assisting parents in understanding diagnoses and treatments. They can often act as a coordinator between parents or patients and other medical staff. They provide resources, talk through questions, and help parents manage health concerns and treatment plans. They can also offer information on healthy habits for preventative care.
Care
Pediatric nurses care for children from birth through the teenage years. The job requires a profound degree of patience and bravery as nurses work with children with a range of fears, dispositions, and ailments. Not only do nurses encourage a healthy lifestyle but they often also provide emotional support for children tackling challenging tests or procedures. The profound level of compassion and care that nurses exhibit each day is spectacular!
At Coastal Kids Pediatrics, we believe that our passionate pediatric nurses are instrumental in creating the best medical care for your family. Their tireless efforts to ensure that children stay as happy and healthy as possible should not go unrecognized. So, don’t forget to thank your favorite nurse for all that they do. And if you’re still wondering “what do pediatric nurses do?” Don’t hesitate to ask at your next visit! To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit us at www.coastalkids.com.