Five Jobs Working with Children for MSNs – Best Value Schools

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Staff Writers
Updated August 11, 2020

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Jobs Working with Children for MSNs

  • Pediatric Nurse
  • School Nurse
  • Developmental Disabilities Nurse
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse
  • Certified Nursing Midwife

Though you can work in a number of nursing positions with just a bachelor's degree, getting your MSN will qualify you for some of the top and highest paid peds nursing jobs. Pediatric nursing jobs refer to the jobs that let you work directly with kids of different ages as well as their parents or guardians. Though you may need some certification for some of these professions, others let you start out with just your graduate degree in nursing.

Pediatric Nurse

One of the more common nursing jobs open to those who like children is that of a pediatric nurse. These nurses typically work in doctors' offices but can also work in children's hospitals. They can do basic screenings that test kids for common childhood diseases and give booster shots and other immunizations. Pediatric nurses can also administer tests to determine if a child has something like the flu of chicken pox.

School Nurse

Though not all schools hire nurses, some hire nurses to work on a part-time or full-time basis to assist students in need. The children that you work with may bring in prescription drugs and notes from their doctors. You're the one responsible for handing out those medications to students as needed. School nurses also help treat students injured while on school property and are the ones who determine if those students need more serious medical help. As a school nurse, you can also chat with students about certain medical conditions and host special events that teach children how to stay fit and healthy.

Developmental Disabilities Nurse

If you are a kind and compassionate person who can handle working with children with different disabilities, you might consider working as a developmental disabilities nurse. Nurses specializing in this field tend to work in treatment centers and assist kids who have a hard time with new people. They can administer medications, do screenings, test kids and give those children necessary immunizations. The kids you work with on a daily basis may act out because they do not know you, have problems paying attention or cannot speak.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, is one of the most important parts of any hospital. This is a wing or section dedicated to the care and treatment of babies. As a NICU nurse, you will work specifically with newborns facing medical conditions that can lead to their deaths. Doctors often admit these children to the NICU immediately after birth. You'll take their vital signs, monitor the children and inform doctors of their conditions. NICU nurses must have a good bedside manner and strong communication skills as they work with the parents of those kids.

Certified Nursing Midwife

Some peds nursing jobs require that you spend more time working with parents than kids. As a certified nurse midwife, you'll work with pregnant women and ensure that they get the treatment and care needed before they deliver. A nursing midwife will also help during the deliver and provide some aftercare to the newborn later. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a nurse midwife is more than $107,000 a year, which is around $51 an hour. After looking at trends, the BLS also found that the need for nursing midwifes will grow at a faster than average rate.

Though some nurses work with those diagnosed with specific medical conditions like cancer, others work with patients in a certain age range. Peds nursing jobs are open to those with an MSN who want to work with kids, but some of these jobs may require certification too.

Related resource:

Top 20 Cheap Online MSN Programs

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