How to Become a Pediatric Home Health Nurse
Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of medically fragile children? As a Pediatric Home Health Nurse, you will care for children who have physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional needs. Learn more about how you can become a Pediatric Home Health Nurse.
Who are Pediatric Home Health Nurses?
Pediatric Home Health Nurses and Pediatric Home Care Nurses specialize in caring for children in the patient’s home. Pediatric Home Health Nurses can be RNs or LPNs/LVNs. Thrive SPC provides high-quality clinical home care to medically fragile children to help them grow to their full potential.
These pediatric nurses can have responsibilities that include the following:
- Administering medicine and therapies
- Accessing patients’ conditions
- G-tube care and management
- Diabetes management
- Oxygen management
- Ventilator and tracheostomy care
- Monitoring vital signs
- Educating patients and their families
- Accompanying the child to school or other community activities
Earn a Degree in Nursing & Pass the NCLEX Exam for RN or LPN/LVN
Individuals interested in pursuing an RN career in Pediatric Home Health Nursing should first earn their associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing. An associate’s degree takes two years to complete while a bachelor’s degree takes four years. For those interested in becoming an LPN/LVN, you do not need a college degree; you will need to enroll in a state-approved and accredited program that is often available at community colleges and vocational schools.
After graduating from one of these programs, you will need to complete and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX-RN is for those who want to become registered nurses while the NCLEX-PN is for those who want to be practical nurses. The exams will focus on the following areas:
- Health promotion
- Physiological identity
- Psychosocial integrity and coping with stresses of being a nurse
- Safe, effective care environments
Apply for a State License & Gain Experience
Once LPNs/LVNs have passed the NCLEX exam and meet state requirements, they can receive their license and begin practicing. For aspiring RNs, you will need to apply for a state nursing (RN) license based on which state you want to practice in. Different states require different qualifications for licensing. Those who want to pursue pediatric nursing should first gain clinical experience working as a nurse. The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) requires at least 1,800 hours of pediatric clinical experience within the past 24 months or at least five years of experience as an RN in pediatrics and 1,000 hours in pediatric nursing.
Pass the Nurse Certification Board Exam
Once individuals have completed their hours, the next step is to pass the Nurse Certification Board Exam (CPNP-PC). Though it is not always required for pediatric nurses, completing this exam proves expertise in the nursing field. The test is around three hours and has 175 multiple-choice questions.
Work at Thrive SPC
To be considered for a position as a Pediatric Home Health Nurse at Thrive SPC, you must be an RN/LPN with a valid license administered by the State Board of Nursing in the location where you would be working, and have a current CPR certification. Once you apply, someone from our recruiting team will be in touch to discuss more about the job opportunities.
Working as a Pediatric Home Health Nurse provides great rewards for the difference you make in children’s and their families’ lives. To learn more about whether Pediatric Home Health Nursing is the right career for you, visit our website.
