PALS Classes and Certification: Essential to Pediatric Nursing Education

Pediatric nurses in hospitals, doctors’ offices, schools and clinics provide life-saving care for children of all ages – infants all the way through adolescents. Effectively doing so requires a pediatric nursing education that involves taking courses to become a registered nurse, completing clinical practices in pediatrics and having an up-to-date certification in pediatric advanced life support (PALS).

Besides completing the necessary education, pediatric nurses must truly enjoy children and be caring, empathetic, detail-oriented and extremely patient.

Pediatric nursing education step one: becoming a registered nurse
Most often, individuals who desire to become a registered nurse (RN) will either achieve a bachelor’s degree (BSN), an associate’s degree (ADN) or receive a diploma from a hospital-provided nursing program. Once receiving your diploma, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to be licensed by the state in which you want to work.

As with any career, seeking internship opportunities or the chance to shadow pediatric nurses prior to completing all your education requirements can help answer your questions and give you an honest look into the pediatric field.

Step two: clinical practice is crucial to a pediatric nurse education
Clinical practice while technically still finishing your pediatric nursing education is a requirement to allow students to “get their feet wet” before actually becoming employed as a pediatric nurse. Clinical practice can be in hospitals, doctors’ offices or clinics around the country and may be required for different lengths of time depending on the specific nursing program.

Taking a PALS course is the final step to completing a pediatric nurse’s education
Earning a PALS certification is an invaluable asset when job searching and applying for pediatric nurse positions. There are many options and reasons for PALS: online courses or in person, a job requirement or adding a new skill set, refreshing your memory or switching focuses. However, once you have an up-to-date certification, you’re ready for the pediatric field.

Health Ed Solutions can be a valuable partner in pediatric nurse education; offering PALS classes, certification and recertification. Health Ed Solutions’ website and online resource library offer information on healthcare careers, pertinent certifications and other general information that healthcare providers can find useful in their careers.