College Requirements for a Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nursing involves caring for children, from infancy all the way up through adolescence. There are many different paths one can take to a career in pediatric nursing. Getting a 4-year degree from a college or university and obtaining a license as a registered nurse is the basis for any route a student takes for a satisfying nursing career.

Pediatric Nursing Options

• There are essentially three options for becoming a pediatric nurse: getting a licensed practical nurse (LPN) diploma, getting training through a hospital's registered nurse (RN) program or getting a university degree through a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Nursing Program Prerequisites

• Before a student enrolls in a 4-year nursing program, it is helpful to have high school courses in chemistry, biology, advanced mathematics and communications. College level prerequisites typically include organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, college algebra, statistics, nutrition, psychology and English composition.

BSN Nursing Programs

• Once accepted into a Bachelor of Science nursing program, students will complete upper level nursing coursework and begin clinical rotations. These clinical rotations give direct patient care and contact, helping the student nurse gain experience while learning.

On-the-Job Training in Pediatrics

• Once a nurse has graduated, work can begin on site in pediatrics. In a hospital setting, a graduate nurse trains on the job in pediatrics both in a classroom setting and clinical setting, for a period of about 3 months.

Future for Pediatric Nurses

• Education does not end after 4 years for a pediatric nurse. Many nurses choose to further their educations and improve their job prospects with a Master's degree in nursing. It is possible for a nurse to obtain certification in pediatrics and become a family nurse practitioner. Training for this takes approximately 18 months to complete.