Nurse - Children

Also known as:

Children's Nurse
Registered Sick Children's Nurse (RSCN)
Sick Children's Nurse
Paediatric Nurse

Introduction

Children's nurses care for babies, children and adolescents. They apply their specialist knowledge to the particular needs and problems of children and their families. This may include care of children with a short- or long-term illness or a disability.

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Work Activities

Children's nurses care for babies, children and adolescents who have a long- or short-term illness, a disability or an injury. They may be based in a specialist children's hospital, a children's ward in a general hospital or in the community.

Wherever they are based, children's nurses are part of a multi-disciplinary team, which includes other nurses, health care assistants, doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and many others. They are responsible for planning and implementing the complete nursing care of their patients.

The children's nurse assesses the requirements of the child and family and draws up a care plan, which outlines the child's needs and treatment schedule. Nurses observe the effectiveness of treatment and modify the care plan accordingly. Day-to-day care may involve:
• administering prescribed drugs either orally or by injection
• removing stitches, cleaning wounds and changing dressings
• taking and recording blood pressure and temperature.

Because the child is dependent on its family, children's nurses involve the child's family in the care and keep them informed of what is happening to their child. This may mean training the parents to administer treatment themselves so they can cope when the child goes home.

Nurses not only deal with the child's physical condition but also reduce the anxiety and confusion a child may feel when faced with unusual surroundings. For instance, they make children's wards as homely as possible. They also communicate with the child through play and maintain the child's emotional, physical and intellectual development.

Nurses working in the community carry out similar duties. They may be responsible for the continuing care of a child after leaving hospital. They will visit them at home to check on their progress and support their parents. Some community nurses, after further training, specialise in a particular field such as diabetes or cancer care.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

In children's nursing, you must be very observant and able to anticipate children's needs, as children are not always able to express what they want or describe where they feel pain.

Communication skills are vital, particularly the ability to reassure, encourage and explain clearly. An interest in science is essential.

Most nursing posts require a certain level of physical fitness and emotional resistance.

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Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

On the Agenda for Change pay scales a newly qualified nurse is on Band 5. From April 1, 2008 this has been £20,225 - £26,123 a year. A nurse team leader is on Band 6 (£24,103 - £32,653 ), while a nurse team manager is on Band 7 (£29,091 - £38,352 a year).

At the highest levels, matrons and nurse consultants can earn up to £64,118, depending on responsibilities.

Nurses work a basic 37.5-hour week. Shift work is usual. Some employers offer flexitime working, and overtime is common.

Most children's nurses work in the NHS (in hospitals and in the community). Other employers include schools and private healthcare companies.

There are also opportunities to work in other countries. (Some countries require further qualifications).

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Adult Opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. To start training as a nurse, you must be aged at least 17 (17 and a half in England) on the day the course starts. You must be at least 16 before you can apply for the course.

If you don't have the qualifications that are usually needed to enter a degree or DipHE in nursing course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, eg, Access to Nursing. You don't usually need any formal qualifications to start an Access course, but you should check individual course details.

Other routes into nursing training for mature entrants can be a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 in a relevant subject (e.g. care), Access to Nursing, modular course credits from the Open University, or Return to Practice courses.

Shortened or accelerated training programmes are available for graduates. For example, a two-year nursing diploma can be taken if you have a degree in a relevant subject area, such as life sciences, social sciences or in health-related topics.

Students on a pre-registration nursing or midwifery diploma or degree course are eligible for a bursary.

Other possible sources of funding include local health authority trust funds and charities.

The Royal College of Nursing also administers a number of post-registration scholarships and awards for experienced and qualified nurses.

The Government is keen to welcome qualified and experienced people back into the NHS. If you have not practised for five years and you want to return to the NHS, you will need to join a Return to Practice programme (approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council). The courses refresh clinical skills and there are classroom sessions to discuss theory. Funding may be available from the Scottish Executive or your employer.

For more information contact your local NHS Trust.

• 31% of nurses work part-time.
• 6% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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