Project Outline

1. Personal Story and Thesis
   A. Personal Story
   When I was seven years old, a neighbor lost their child. She was my friend, and I was
   saddened by her death. Later on, my mother told me that there was no pediatric nurse
   available at the hospital that the girl was admitted. She did not receive proper care, and
   this led to her death. I was devastated. I promised myself to become a pediatric nurse so
   that I can help young children grow and develop optimally by providing the necessary
   care. There is a shortage of pediatric nurses in rural areas, and this is what I am trying to
   solve, one pediatric nurse at a time, and we will progress in the right direction. I enjoy
   working with children, and this is the right career for me.
   B. Thesis: Pediatric nurses are more in urban than rural areas, and my dream is to specialize
   in this area and help curb the shortage of pediatric nurses and ensure that every child
   growth and development is monitored by a professional.
2. Educational requirements
   A. A career as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics requires a college degree. A
   Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an associate’s degree in nursing (AND) is

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required (Every Nurse). I am interested in being a nurse pediatric. This requires passing
the pediatric nursing certification exam.
B. A BSN will take four years to complete.
C. Some of the best nursing schools include the University of San Francisco, West Coast
University and the University of California.
D. I have a five-year plan to complete this goal. I will first become an RN before
specializing in pediatrics.
E. Working outside the state of California is a smooth process as a registered nurse and
licensed in California. However, without the license, hen working outside California
requires that one applies by examination. It is mandatory to pass the National Council
Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) (California Board of Registered Nurses). After
which, an RN is allowed to work in a state other than California. One of the
disadvantages of working outside California is that the salary will be lower. California is
categorized as the highest paying state when it comes to salaries received by pediatric
nurses (Bal).

3. Required Skills
   A. A successful RN specializing in pediatrics is gregarious and tenacious. One needs a calm
   demeanor and be able to work well under stressful conditions. An RN working as a
   pediatric nurse requires several soft skills. First, they should be critical thinkers. Nurses
   must critically evaluate a situation, the patient’s status and determine the corrective
   action. They should be able to decide when to consult another professional or even when
   to make a referral. The nurse should also possess good communication skills and be able

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to communicate effectively to patients, who in this case are children, their families and
other professionals.
B. An RN is expected to be professional, acknowledge when a situation they are handling is
beyond their scope, be punctual and maintain high standards of care (Catlett and Sherry
59). I will achieve this level of professionalism by observing the code of conduct and
standards of nursing as well as by working closely with colleagues.
C. I am confident that I possess the skills required to work as an RN in the pediatric
department.

3. Salary
   A. Salaries for pediatric nurses vary widely, but the range is an average of $52,000 to $120
   560 (Every Nurse).
   B. The salary of a pediatric nurse increases annually. The rate of increment is dependent on
   factors such as credentials and educational background.
   C. The least I could make is $ 52,000, and the most I could make is $120, 560 (Bal).
   D. Education level makes a difference in salary. A nurse with an associate degree can earn
   $63,000, while a nurse with a doctor of nursing practice could make up to $120, 560
   (Bal).
   E. Apart from being passionate about this career, it also provides me with the income that
   will meet my needs.
4. Job Duties & Type of Work
   A. A pediatric nurse ensures that all children develop and grow well and to their full
   potential. They are tested with caring for injured and sick children, administering
   immunizations, counselling patients and monitoring child development (Every Nurse).

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B. Pediatric nurses work a twelve-hour period per shift (Pediatric Nurse Career Guide).
C. Pediatric nursing is a career that can be found in any city.
D. Nurses can work indoors or outdoors.

5. Job Benefits & Job Drawbacks
   A. Working as a pediatric nurse allows one to work not only with children but with their
   families also. For someone who enjoys being around children, it is a specialty that allows
   one to work alongside children and reassure them when they are afraid of some medical
   procedures and tests.
   B. There are drawbacks in that it is difficult to communicate with patients who may be very
   young to understand. Interacting with families of sick children can cause emotional stress
   as they are stressed too and need support as much as the sick child (Doede et al. 105).
   C. Although there are challenges, every career has its challenges. I am passionate about
   children, and nursing has been my career of choice since I was young. I get to do what I
   love and what I always dreamt of doing.

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Works Cited

Bal, Daniel. “Pediatric Nursing Salary Guide | Nursejournal.Org”. Nursejournal, 2021,
https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/salary/.
California Board of Registered Nurses. “Licensure By Endorsement”. California Board Of
Registered Nurses, 2021, https://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-end.shtml.
Catlett, Shelia, and Sherry R. Lovan. “Being a good nurse and doing the right thing: A
replication study.” Nursing ethics 18.1 (2011): 54-63.
Doede, Megan, Alison M. Trinkoff, and Ayse P. Gurses. “Neonatal intensive care unit layout and
nurses’ work.” HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal 11.1 (2018):
101-118.
Every Nurse. “Pediatric Nurse – Everynurse.Org”. Everynurse.Org, 2021,
https://everynurse.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/.
Pediatric Nurse Career Guide. “Pediatric Nurse Career Guide”. Nurse.Org, 2021,
https://nurse.org/resources/pediatric-nurse/.