Nurses For Babies And Children
There is such a variety of specialties when it comes to the healthcare professions. A person without a medical education could get lost in the numerous taglines and acronyms. It could sometimes be confusing for the nurses themselves, isn’t it? The overlaps between the specialties create certain difficulty for differentiating them as Nurses For Babies And Children.
It is quite a broad and complicated topic. This is why we will focus on a certain group of nurses – who take care of the babies and children. That’s easy – a paediatric nurse, right? Well, you’re almost right. There are many different positions nurses can hold in paediatrics. All of them are serious and require dedication and love for the profession.
Let’s take a deeper look at the different types of nurses for babies and children-
Paediatric Registered Nurse
The paediatric registered nurse is the most common title in this field of nursing. Generally speaking, they are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients from the moment they take first breath through adolescence. It is a very fulfilling and at the same time tough profession. Apart from passion and compassion paediatric nurses must have deep knowledge about children’s growth and possible diseases.
When it comes to children, diagnosing and treating diseases is different. Paediatric nurses should be able to find the right approach towards the children and build long-term relationships with them.
The main duties of the paediatric registered nurse include:
-routine check-ups for children of all ages
-treating illnesses
-doing screenings and immunizations
-observing concerning signs and conditions
-provide information to parents and provide emotional support if needed
Neonatal Nurse and NICU Nurse
Another popular speciality in childcare is the neonatal nurse. They take care of the new-born infants in their first weeks of life. A sub-category is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse. The NICU nurse provides care for the new-borns, who are either born prematurely or have certain health problems. Whether it is a birth defect, infection, or certain deformities, the neonatal nurses provide care and support to the infants.
They also explain the condition to the parents and educate them on the topic. Some of the duties of the neonatal nurses include:
-monitoring the progress of the baby’s condition
-working with premature babies
-providing support to both the baby and the parents
-educate the parents on how to treat the baby once they leave the unit.
Developmental Disability Nurse
Developmental Disability nurses known also as Special Needs nurses provide care for patients with a wide range of disabilities. Mental and developmental disabilities can affect a child’s ability to perform basic activities in their everyday life. This includes Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome and many other development disorders which affect the mental health of the children. The developmental disability nurse provides specialized support to those children.
Some of the main responsibilities of these nurses are:
– assessment of patient’s condition and planning care programme accordingly
-providing support to both patient and relatives
-measuring progress
-assisting in different daily tasks such as dressing up and preparation of food
-writing records and reports
-helping patients live a normal and independent life.
Palliative Paediatric Nurse
The role of the Palliative Paediatric Nurse could be described as the toughest one in the paediatric field. You need a strong character and the ability to take the hardest of situations as calm as possible. These nurses care for children with life-threatening conditions. Very often their duty is to relieve the suffering of the children during the last moments of their lives.
Often described as ‘end of life care’, the role of the Palliative Paediatric nurse aims to improve the overall quality of life for patients with life limiting illnesses. They also provide emotional support to the family of the patient.
The role embraces the physical, emotional and spiritual elements which altogether enhance the overall quality of life. Duties of the Palliative Paediatric Nurse include:
-identify what kind of support and care is required and be flexible to provide it
-ensure clear coordination with other health care professionals
-help family and relatives with advices, information and emotional support
-discussing inevitable death with relatives in the most appropriate manner and help them take informed decisions if needed.
Within the variety of nurses in the paediatric field, the above listed specialties are the most common. It is definitely fulfilling to care for babies and young children but as we saw, it could also be a very tough profession. The paediatric nurses play a key role in the children’s lives and we cannot express our gratitude to them! Your passion and dedication are inspiring.
What is the most fulfilling part of the job according to you? Share your thoughts and stories
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